The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions: Kazakhstan’s Initiative That Became a Global Platform for Interfaith Dialogue

Astana: A Global Capital of Interreligious Dialogue

For more than two decades, Kazakhstan has hosted one of the world's most significant forums dedicated to dialogue among religions: the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Origins of the Congress

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was convened for the first time on 23–24 September 2003 at the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

On 13 February 2003, speaking at the International Conference on Peace and Concord, which brought together representatives of Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities and played an important role in promoting rapprochement among religions, cultures and peoples, President Nazarbayev proposed holding a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan.

Representatives of the Catholic Church were among the first to support the initiative during the President's visit to the Vatican.

Objectives of the Congress

• To identify common human values shared by world and traditional religions;
• To establish a permanent international interfaith institution for dialogue among religions and for the adoption of mutually agreed decisions.

Main Priorities of the Congress

• Promoting peace, harmony and tolerance as fundamental principles of human coexistence;
• Fostering mutual respect and understanding among religions, confessions, nations and ethnic groups;
• Preventing the misuse of religious sentiments to incite conflicts and hostilities.

Tasks of the Congress

• Strengthening the tradition of interreligious and interfaith dialogue through regular congresses;
• Establishing a permanent body of the Congress to coordinate and professionally prepare the agenda, concepts and themes of future congresses;
• Cooperating with international organizations and institutions engaged in promoting dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations;
• Expanding dialogue among representatives of different cultures and religions, including secular and religious media, youth organizations, scholars and cultural figures;
• Deepening mutual understanding and respect among religious communities;
• Promoting a culture of tolerance and mutual respect as a counterweight to hatred, extremism and intolerance;
• Countering narratives of a “clash of civilizations” based on the opposition of religions, as well as the politicization of theological disputes and attempts to discredit one religion through another;
• Promoting global dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions.

Participation of Belgian Representatives in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana since 2003 at the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is one of the world's leading platforms for interreligious dialogue. Since its inception, the Congress has brought together representatives of more than 50–60 countries and major world religions.

According to available information, Belgian representatives have participated in the activities of the Congress primarily through religious and interfaith institutions rather than as part of an official governmental delegation.

The Jewish Community of Belgium

The most likely and publicly documented Belgian participant in international interreligious dialogue associated with the Congress is Chief Rabbi of Brussels and Belgium, Albert Guigui, who represents the Belgian Jewish community within European religious institutions and is actively involved in interfaith initiatives.

Given his standing within the European religious community and his close engagement with European rabbinical organizations, it is highly likely that he has participated in events of the Congress or related international interfaith forums. However, no direct confirmation of Rabbi Guigui’s participation in the plenary sessions of the Congress has been identified in publicly available sources.

The Catholic Church in Belgium

Belgian Catholic leaders have traditionally been represented within the international structures of the Roman Catholic Church, which has been one of the key participants in the Congress since its establishment. Representatives of the Holy See have consistently supported Kazakhstan’s initiative to promote interreligious dialogue.

At the same time, publicly available Congress materials generally list Belgian Catholic figures as members of broader Vatican delegations or European episcopal structures rather than as individual representatives of Belgium.

https://religions-congress.org/en