China's religious leaders support Kazakhstan's initiatives on strengthening interfaith dialogue
As part of his official visit to the People’s Republic of China, Maulen Ashimbayev, the Speaker of the Kazakh Senate and Chief of the Secretariat of the Congress of the World and Traditional Religions Leaders, had a meeting with Shi Taifeng, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Chinese religious leaders, Kazinform News Agency reports.
In his remarks, Maulen Ashimbayev drew attention to the similarity of Kazakhstan’s and China’s positions on many issues of the global and regional agendas. Both countries give priority attention to ensuring harmonious development of the world, international stability and security. For this reason, Kazakhstan supports China’s initiatives on formation of a fair and multi-polar world.
“Kazakhstan also advances a number of international initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and security. One of them is the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which has proved to be a widely recognized platform for the promotion of interfaith dialogue and unification of the spiritual leaders’ efforts to address the acute problems of the modern world. We highly appreciate China’s support and active participation of your representatives in the Congress’ work,” Maulen Ashimbayev said.
He highlighted that amid today’s challenges and growing geopolitical tense, the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions should contribute to the solution of urgent global, environmental and spiritual problems of the humanity through spiritual diplomacy. In this context, he pointed out the role of the Goodwill Ambassadors of the Congress and the Forum of Young Spiritual Leaders held last October, which united the representatives of various confessions, international and public organizations, promising young scholars and politicians. Such engagement of the young leaders in the Congress’ activity will ensure continuity of traditions of inter-civilization and interreligious dialogue.
The Senate Speaker also thanked the chairpersons of the Taoist and Buddhist associations of China for their contribution to the Congress’ work: to the preservation of peace and development of interconfessional dialogue.
"The world faces today a rather complicated geopolitical situation. New challenges and problems arise. In these conditions, collective and united efforts of religious, political and public leaders to promote a culture of peace and dialogue are gaining importance. The VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be dedicated to this very goal. Let me invite you to the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. I am confident that the participation of religious leaders of China will contribute to its successful organization,” said Ashimbayev.
For his part, Shi Taifeng highly praised Kazakhstan’s policy on establishment of the dialogue among the representatives of various confessions, promotion of a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He also expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan within the Congress and confirmed Chinese religious leaders’ openness for joint projects.
The VIII Congress of the World and Traditional Religions’ Leaders will be held in 2025 in Astana.
On January 13, Speaker of the Kazakh Parliament’s Senate Maulen Ashimbayev met with Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji.
