On October 18, 2021, the international conference was held in Nur-Sultan on the topic: «Strengthening interfaith and interethnic harmony in the face of modern challenges», dedicated to the Day of Spiritual Harmony of Kazakhstan.
The event was organized by: Office of Religious Affairs of the Akimat of Nur-Sultan together with the Center for the Study of Religions with the support of the Center N. Nazarbayev for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue.
The conference was attended by Deputy Akim of Nur-Sultan A. Oralov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan B. Bakirov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Center N. Nazarbayev for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue B. Sarsenbayev, President of the International Association «Peace through culture» T. Mukhamedzhanov, as well representatives of the Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, state bodies, religious associations, participants in the Secretariat and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, public figures and international experts from Russia, USA, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Austria.
The purpose of the event is to maintain interethnic and interfaith peace and harmony, to increase spiritual and moral values and respect for all religious cultures and confessions, as well as to strengthen tolerance in public consciousness.
During the conference, the participants discussed topical issues in the field of state-confessional and inter-confessional relations, the tasks of strengthening Kazakhstan's identity based on the national idea, as well as the growing role of civil society in promoting inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding in the country and in the world.
In speech, Chairman of the Management Board of the Center N. Nazarbayev B. Sarsenbayev stressed that Kazakhstan appears before the whole world as a state that openly demonstrates its own model of social and interreligious harmony and unity, its vision of solving modern problems on a global scale.
«Since the first years of Independence of Kazakhstan, especially now, the First President of the country - Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev and the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have made purposeful efforts and special attention to preserving peace in a sovereign state, whose citizens see the basis of their future in a prosperous country where spiritual unity reigns and public consent. Therefore, today the mission of a unique dialogue platform - the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions remains highly relevant and in demand. It is obvious that one of the most effective tools for confronting new challenges is dialogue between peoples and confessions, as well as a keen search for ways of rapprochement», - summarized B. Sarsenbayev.
The Chairman of the Management Board of the Center also informed the conference participants about the results of the 19th Secretariat of the Congress, its key decisions, the work carried out by the Center in preparation for the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and other international events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's Independence.
Note that the first World Congress of Spiritual Harmony was held on the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in Almaty on October 18, 1992. On this day, the participants in the congress adopted a manifesto designed to declare October 18 as the Day of Spiritual Harmony.
