On October 11, Astana will host
the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of Congress of Leaders of World and
Traditional Religions, once again proving itself as a global spiritual capital.
The meeting, chaired by Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev, will bring together world
religious leaders from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism,
Taoism, and Shintoism, as well as representatives of international
organizations and politicians from 24 countries. The Secretariat was founded based
on the decision of the first congress held in September 2003. During this time,
it has become the forum’s primary working body. It annually considers the
implementation of the congress decisions, deliberates on the agenda, addresses organizational
issues, and crafts draft final documents.
“Exactly 20 years ago, we hosted
the first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana.
This year, the Secretariat meeting follows the seventh congress, which was held
last year when President Tokayev instructed to prepare the Development Concept
of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for the ten-year
period from 2022 to 2033. We have already prepared a draft document and
discussed it with the Secretariat participants. A communiqué will also be adopted
based on the results of the Secretariat meeting,” noted Bulat Sarsenbayev,
Chairman of the N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and
Intercivilization Dialogue.
The last year’s seventh Congress
of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana gathered more than 100
delegations from over 50 countries. The discussions revolved around the role of
religious leaders in the spiritual and social development of humanity in the
post-pandemic period. The forthcoming eighth congress is scheduled for 2025.
