On February 18-19, within the framework of the working trip of the Commissioner for the Promotion of the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions - Chairman of the Board of the N.Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue Bulat Sarsenbayev to the Arab Republic of Egypt (Cairo), bilateral meetings were held with the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) of Egypt Muhammad Mukhtar Juma, the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, Secretary General of Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy Nazir Mohammed Mohammed Al-Nazir Ayad, the Chief Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center in Cairo, Bishop Ermia and President of Al-Azhar University, Dr. Salama Zhuma Daoud, the Member of the Board of the Doha Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Youssef Al-Siddiqui.
During the bilateral meetings, B.Sarsenbayev expressed gratitude to the Center's partners for their comprehensive and consistent support for the work of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which, thanks to joint efforts, has become a platform for strengthening mutual understanding and mutual respect between religions. He also stressed the importance of developing spiritual diplomacy and spoke about Kazakhstan's initiatives in the field of interfaith harmony and the promotion of global interreligious dialogue.
In addition, the work carried out during the inter-congress period was outlined as part of the implementation of the provisions of the "2023-2033 Development Concept of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions", developed on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Also, during the meetings, B.Sarsenbayev informed the interlocutors that the Concept outlines the mechanisms for promoting the mission of the Congress at a new stage, reflected in the Road Map for promoting the Concept of the Congress, approved by Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions M.Ashimbayev. In addition, the importance of introducing the institute of Goodwill ambassadors of the Congress and holding a Forum of Young Religious Leaders was noted.
In general, following the results of the bilateral meetings, the parties discussed a wide range of issues and identified priority areas for further cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels.