Meeting of the 19th Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

Meeting of the 19th Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

On October 6, 2021, at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Nur-Sultan), a meeting of XIX Secretariat of the Congress will be held under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Maulen Ashimbayev.

The agenda of XIX Secretariat of the Congress provides for the consideration of the following issues:

  1. Progress in preparations for VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and the significance of the Congress in the context of post-pandemic development.
  2. The format of the holding, as well as the topics of the plenary and breakout sessions of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in 2022 with the participation of the First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev on resolving global crises in the light of new challenges and global opportunities, as well as defining the role of modern religious leaders in the convergence of cultures, societies and civilizations.
  3. Criteria for awarding the Astana International Prize for Contribution to Interreligious Dialogue and the Medal of Honor of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
  4. Discussion of the draft Special document on the outstanding role of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy N.А. Nazarbayev in promoting intercivilizational and interreligious dialogue.
  5. Determination of the date and place of XX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress.

Representatives of foreign religious leaders and heads of international centers are expected to attend the XIX meeting of the Secretariat, including the Al-Azhar Academy of Islamic Studies (Egypt), the Islamic World League (Saudi Arabia), the Caucasian Muslims Office (Azerbaijan), the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Appeal and Instruction (Saudi Arabia), the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University of Islamabad (Pakistan), Ministry of Waqfs of Egypt, Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bureau of Islam of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican), the Church of England (UK), Lutheran World Federation, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, World Buddhist Community (Thailand), Chinese Buddhist Association, Chinese Taoist Association, Shinto organization «Jinja Honche» (Japan), Program on Interfaith Relations and Mutual Understanding of «Somaya Vidyavihar» University (India), UN Alliance of Civilizations (USA), Muslim Council of Elders (UAE) and others.

At the same time, representatives of religious associations of Kazakhstan and the first leaders of the country will take part in the work of the XIX session of the Secretariat:

  1. Ashimbayev – Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
  2. Balayeva – Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue.
  3. Rakhmetullin – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress.
  4. Yegizbayev – Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress.

A complete list of participants in the XIX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be posted on the website of N.Nazarbayev Center: http://religions-congress.org.