By Katsuhiro Asagiri
Tokyo/Astana (INPS Japan) — The 21st Secretariat Meeting of the Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in Kazakhstan, the center of the Eurasian continent, and adopted a vision for the next decade on Oct 11, 2023.
This initiative was launched in 2003 at the call of Kazakhstan as an initiative to seek peace and cooperation through dialogue among the leaders of the world’s traditional religions in response to the growing exclusivism and extremism toward certain religions after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since then, the triennial conference has been held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where 130 multi-ethnic and multi-religious groups coexist peacefully. With the participating religious leaders increasing with each session and agenda reflecting the rapidly changing international situation, the Congress has evolved into a central forum for promoting dialogue among diverse religions, building unity, and advocating peace.
The theme of the 7th Conference, held in 2022, the 20th year of its inauguration, was “The Role of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the Spiritual and Social Development of Human Civilization in the Post-Pandemic Period.” Participants included figures like Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church and the highest authority of Sunni Islam, Ahmad el-Tayeb, as well as representatives from the Church of England, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Bahá’í Faith, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Jainism, Shintoism, and others, with over 100 delegations from 50 countries worldwide. Incidentally, Japan was represented by the Jinja Honcho, which encompasses 80,000 shrines, and the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), which has 12 million members in more than 100 countries. SGI has also been closely working with Kazakh Foreign Ministry focusing on the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons to ashere in a world free from nuclear weapons.
Read the related article: “Kazakhstan’s Enduring Legacy: From a Nuclear Test Site to a Leader in Disarmament”
Kazakhstan is known for its tolerant culture that has welcomed diverse cultures and religions as a center of trade between East and West since the ancient Silk Road, but not much is known about the history of the Soviet era when nuclear testings were repeated in eastern Kazakhstan inflicting inter-generational health effects on 1.5 million people, besides forced migration, famine, the suppression of Kazakh nomad culture, religion, and language. In this context, it should be noted that Kazakhstan, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, clearly states in its constitution that all minorities, cultures, and religions in the country are to be treated equally with Kazakhs, and emphasizes active cultural and religious coexistence through education and related events, making the country’s diversity a proud national strength.
INPS Japan, along with international journalists from Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, the Vatican, the United Kingdom, Iran, Thailand, Italy, the United States, South Korea, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia, stayed in Astana to document this important milestone in the peace initiative. In addition to interviewing religious leaders from around the world, the journalists had the opportunity to learn about the history and society of Kazakhstan, which has attracted religious leaders from around the world for two decades.
In the midst of growing religious and ethnic divisions and conflicts around the world, Kazakhstan’s visionary policies have been praised by religious leaders from around the world as a model for the international community in the future. Kazakhstan visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the interfaith dialogue promise a brighter future of unity, tolerance, and cooperation among diverse faiths.
The initial vision of the 2003-23 conference focused on strengthening and promoting multilateral interreligious dialogue. “Today we can confidently say that this initial mission of the congress has been successfully accomplished.” said Mauren Asinbayev, Chairman of the Secretariat and President of the Upper House of the Kazakh Parliament.
The next step, as indicated by this Secretariat meeting, is to build on this success. The Conference is poised to intensify its efforts to develop and solidify interreligious dialogue and sees unlimited potential for spiritual diplomacy.
Explaining the comprehensive nature of the newly launched Development Concept, Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy Secretary General Kairat Umarov said, “A significant part of the Development Concept refers to the realization of the outcomes of the seven conferences that have been held to date. Our aspiration is to develop our dialogue platform into a real mechanism for strengthening interreligious ties at the global level. Particular attention is paid to the issue of developing the capabilities of spiritual diplomacy”
The development concept for the next decade is the culmination of wisdom and an ambitious roadmap designed to facilitate its evolution in a rapidly changing world. It represents a global commitment to transcend each doctrine and foster a world in which spiritual and moral values are not merely preserved, but become the cornerstone of international relations.
As the international press corps, including INPS Japan, documented this historic meeting in Astana, the world witnessed a significant step forward in the journey toward a more inclusive and harmonious world. The 21st Secretariat Meeting of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held against the backdrop of Kazakhstan’s serene multicultural mosaic, is not just another chapter in history, but a clear call to an era in which diversity is celebrated and spirituality is the bridge that connects humanity in its myriad colors. [INPS Japan — October 20, 2023]