Kazakhstan’s capital will host the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on 17 and 18 September. The event will be chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and is expected to bring together more than a 100 delegations from around 60 countries.
Participants will include spiritual leaders from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and Shinto, as well as representatives of international organizations, scholars, and public figures. Confirmed attendees include Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.
The official programme will begin on 16th of September with the 23rd session of the Congress Secretariat, chaired by Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev, and a special session of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations dedicated to the protection of religious sites.
The main theme of the Congress is “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future.” During the two days, participants will discuss pressing global challenges and the role of religious leaders in addressing them. The forum will conclude with the Second Forum of Young Religious Leaders, focusing on youth engagement in strengthening interreligious peace.
The Congress holds special significance for Kazakhstan. The country is home to more than 130 ethnic groups and 18 religious confessions. The Congress showcases Kazakhstan’s unique model of peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony, successfully practiced within its borders. This is not only a domestic message but also an international signal that peaceful dialogue is possible in a multiethnic society.
Furthermore, the forum strengthens Kazakhstan’s international image as a neutral platform for sincere and respectful dialogue between East and West. In a world marked by growing instability and conflicts, Kazakhstan promotes spiritual diplomacy—a form of soft power that enhances its standing on the global stage.
Over the years, the Congress has achieved tangible results. The continuously operating Secretariat and the Council of Religious Leaders ensure the continuity and coordination of initiatives. Joint declarations and appeals adopted at the Congresses have found resonance in the work of the UN and other international organisations. In 2023, a long-term development concept was approved for the Congress, extending to 2033, emphasising youth involvement, digital ethics, and expanded international cooperation.
Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have formalised their new defensive alliance at the grouping’s first high-level meeting held Monday i...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leade...
Qatar has discussed potential investment in Afghanistan’s oil and gas sectors and the construction of a crude o...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. government and Israel-aligned actors of manipulating energy markets to promote the war with Iran.
Russian strikes on the Kyiv region overnight killed 37 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian capital was under "virtually nonstop attack" from drones.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have formalised their new defensive alliance at the grouping’s first high-level meeting held Monday in Istanbul.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Tehran is not pursuing a military conflict but promised a strong response to 'aggressors' while the Army and Revolutionary Guards said they carried out retaliatory attacks against U.S. bases in the region on Monday.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
Pakistan is set to take over the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation after the bloc’s leaders meet in Bishkek. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived on Friday to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and SCO Plus Summit, which run until 2 September.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Qusra, saying security operations should be handled only by state institutions, including the army and police.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment