President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia, noting that the meeting marked another important step in deepening cooperation
between Kazakhstan and Russia, which are strategic partners and allies. For
his contribution to strengthening the spiritual ties between the two peoples
and as a sign of special respect, the Head of State awarded Patriarch Kirill the Order of Altyn
Qyran. The distinguished guest thanked Tokayev for the warm welcome and stated
that the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church has always been to promote peace and mutual understanding between
peoples.
«First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for joining us here during the Congress. Your participation is, in fact, crucial to achieving the desired success of this forum. We have the utmost respect for you. You know that Kazakhstan and Russia are strategic partners and allies,» Tokayev said.
«Kazakhstan is a friendly country. We have lived together for
centuries, and despite the differences between our states today, this does not
prevent us from preserving bonds of friendship, mutual support, and cooperation,» Patriarch Kirill shared.
On
the sidelines of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions,
President Tokayev met with representatives of Jewish organizations – the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Chief Rabbis of Israel and
the Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations. He emphasized that their participation in the forum reflects a
commitment to strengthening cultural and spiritual ties and advancing
interreligious dialogue.
In
talks with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Tokayev expressed gratitude for his
support of the initiative to hold the Congress, stressing that his
proposals had made a significant contribution to enhancing the forum’s role.
The President highlighted that Orthodoxy occupies an important place in the
spiritual life of Kazakhstan.
At a meeting with Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the UN
Secretary-General’s High
Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Tokayev reaffirmed
Kazakhstan’s interest in cooperation with the Alliance. Moratinos, in turn,
commended Kazakhstan’s reforms and expressed hope that the Congress
would contribute to strengthening peace and harmony.
In a conversation with the head of the World Taoist Federation, the Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, and the Deputy Director of the administrative department of China’s National Religious Affairs Administration, Tokayev praised China’s constructive role and President Xi Jinping’s contribution to global inter-civilizational dialogue. He expressed confidence that joint efforts will further strengthen the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries.
During a meeting with Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board, Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan share common approaches to interreligious dialogue, which serve as a solid basis for long-term cooperation.
The
President also discussed the importance of strengthening mutual understanding
among different faiths in his meeting with Omar Habtoor Al Darei, the Chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs
and Endowments of the UAE.
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