3 June, 2022 in Paris - On the eve of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Embassy of Kazakhstan to France, with the support of the N.Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue, held an international round table on the topic "Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Harmony" with participation of representatives of the French clergy, scientific and expert circles, representatives of international organizations, as well as diplomatic representatives and mass media.
At the round table from the Kazakh side, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to France H.E. Zhan Galiev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Akan Rakhmetullin, Chairman of the Board of the N.Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue, Commissioner for promoting the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Bulat Sarsenbayev.
From the French side, UNESCO representative D.Monteiro, representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France T.Morel, President of the University of Strasbourg M.Deneken, writer, journalist M.Halter, religious representatives and mass media.
Opening of the international round table, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to France, H.E. Zhan Galiev. The Ambassador noted that, being a multinational and multi-confessional society, being in a difficult geopolitical environment, Kazakhstan could not stand apart in the new geopolitical realities, therefore, it began to take concrete actions, which contributed to the emergence of a large-scale initiative to convene a Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions. An important feature of this interreligious forum consists in a wide and representative composition of its participants. Thus, the Congress will attend by representatives from Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism and public organizations, as well as authoritative world politicians.
During of the round table, A.Rakhmetullin noted that the importance and relevance of the Congress due to the current unpredictability and the aggravated global situation in the world. He also informed that the ongoing international political and socio-economic processes direct impact on interfaith and interreligious relations. He believes that religious leaders, using the platform of the Congress, should take a proactive position and demonstrate unity of approaches in solving modern spiritual problems in the post-pandemic period. A.Rakhmetullin declared that he expects that the VII Congress will once again become a place for discussing current challenges, as well as determining a common vision for further actions in the new reality.
In his turn, Chairman of the Board B.Sarsenbayev as the Commissioner for promoting the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, informed about the history and mission of the Congress, which has demonstrated its relevance against the background of the escalation of modern challenges and threats, he also noted that the Congress provides productive meetings and communication interaction between Leaders of world religions and political figures, that they can listen and hear each other, use rich spiritual heritage of world religions and the common historical experience of civilizations to determine the role of Leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of mankind.
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.
