4 May, 2022 In Brussels On the eve of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Belgium, with the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue, held a round table: "Interfaith dialogue for peace and harmony".
At the round table from the Kazakh side, Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Belgium H.E. Margulan Baimukhan, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of «N.Nazarbayev center for development of interfaith and inter-civilization dialogue» Mr. Nurlan Yessimov and Associate professor of Religious Studies department of L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University Ms. Yuliya Shapoval. From the Brussels side, Coordinator of Belgium’s Muslim executive Mr. Abdelaziz EL Ouahabi, Former Member of the European Parliament Mr. Frank Schwalba-Hoth and Coordinator of the Brussels Diplomatic Academy Mr. Jean De Brabander. The moderator of the event was Former-Lecturer in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the Brussels School of International Studies, D.Phil. (Oxford University) Dr. Marat Terterov.
Opening the round table, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Belgium M. Baimukhan noted that the development of a culture of peaceful dialogue is becoming one of the basic values of modernity, and he emphasized that the activities of the Congress of World and Traditional Religions can become a new promising area for cooperation with European institutions.
In turn, the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the N.Nazarbayev Center informed about the key activities of the organization, the promotion of conceptual ideas of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at the international level, and preparatory works with the preparations for the upcoming VII Congress, which will be held in September 2022. N.Yessimov as well noted that the Congress was a significant contribution of Kazakhstan to the global process of interreligious dialogue and took a special place in the world community to strengthen the principles of harmony and tolerance, mutual understanding and cooperation in the international arena.
Participants of the round table noted the importance of promoting interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue at the international level, especially in the context of joint efforts to overcome the consequences of the pandemic, as well as resolving regional conflicts that require interethnic and interreligious harmony in the name of peace and mutual understanding.
