On April 29, 2025, the Acting Chairman of the Board of the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue, Marat Kalizhanov, held a formal meeting with His Excellency Mr. Faisal Hanif Al-Qahtani, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Discussions focused primarily on preparations for the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, scheduled for September in Astana. A key point of discussion was the anticipated participation of the Saudi Arabian delegation and its potential contribution to advancing global interreligious dialogue.
Ambassador Al-Qahtani affirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's steadfast support for international initiatives aimed at strengthening interreligious understanding and cooperation. He commended Kazakhstan's significant role in fostering global dialogue among religions, emphasizing the upcoming Congress's importance as a pivotal platform for consolidating efforts towards peace and mutual respect.
Marat Kalizhanov noted that the Saudi delegation's participation would be a crucial step in further deepening religious harmony and expressed the Center's readiness to enhance spiritual cooperation between the two nations.
Both parties concluded the meeting by reaffirming their mutual commitment to continued active collaboration to ensure the successful preparation and convening of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
