On June 2 of this year, Bulat Sarsenbayev, Chairman of the Board of the N.Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Japan to the Republic of Kazakhstan Jun Yamada.
During the meeting Bulat Sarsenbayev, as the Commissioner for promoting the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, informed the Center’s work for organizing and preparing for the XX meeting of the Congress Secretariat and the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and underlined the importance of the Japan side's participation in upcoming events, expressing gratitude for the support of the Center's initiatives to develop interreligious dialogue at the global level.
"I am pleased that our meeting is taking place on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. I would like to pay special attention to the fact that since the First Congress in 2003, Japan has been actively participating in the work of Congresses. I am glad that over these years all the necessary conditions have been created for the development of interreligious and intercultural dialogue," B.Sarsenbayev said.
In his turn, Mr. Yamada assured that the Japan Embassy will make all necessary efforts to maintain cooperation between Japan and Kazakhstan on issues of ensuring interfaith harmony and promoting intercivilizational dialogue in the world.
At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed on further cooperation in the framework of preparatory work for the XX meeting of the Congress Secretariat and the VII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
For reference: The I-VI Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions were attended by the following Japan representatives: Director of the Main Department of Shinto Temples "Jinja Honcho" Minoru Sonoda, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Shinto Temples Kuni Kuniaki, President of Japanese Association of Shinto Temples “Jinja Honcho” Tsunekie Tanaka, Executive Director of Jinja Honche Shinto Temple Association Tanenori Terai, Vice-President of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist society, Executive Director of Soka Gakkai International Hirotsugu Terasaki and others.
