The Second Congress confirmed the relevance and viability of Kazakhstan’s initiative. It became an important step in the development of interreligious dialogue, broadening the composition of participants and elevating the discussion to a new level of substance. The forum brought together over
40 delegations from
20 countries, representing leading world and traditional religions, as well as international organizations and academic circles.
The Second Congress was held for the first time in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, built specifically for this forum according to a design by British architect Norman Foster. The building itself became an architectural symbol of the pursuit of spiritual harmony and interfaith concord.
Key topics of the meetings included:- Strengthening international cooperation in the field of religious concord.
- Joint efforts to combat extremism and terrorism.
- Promoting cultural and spiritual exchange between countries and religious communities.
During the forum, the Head of State held a series of bilateral meetings with world political and religious leaders, including:
- President Salman Al-Husseini Al-Nadwi, India;
- Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea Kim Won Ki;
- Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura;
- Vice President of the NGO K.J. Somaiya Trust Shantilal Karamshi Somaiya;
- Bishop of Croydon, Church of England, His Grace Nicholas Baines;
- Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad;
- Head of the Vatican delegation, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray;
- Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Ecumenical Patriarchate;
- Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi;
- and other participants of the Congress.
Outcomes and decisions:- Adoption of the Declaration on Religion, Society, and International Security, emphasizing that no religion can justify aggression or terrorism.
- Recognition of the importance of education and enlightenment to prevent the radicalization of youth.
- Decision to further develop the Congress Secretariat as an institutional mechanism for dialogue.
- Kazakhstan proposed declaring an International Year of Religious and Cultural Tolerance under the auspices of the UN.
- Creation of an International Center for Cultures and Religions to operate within the Palace, engaging in educational and research projects in the field of interfaith dialogue.
International recognition: The forum received broad support from the international community, including religious leaders, diplomats, and representatives of UNESCO, OSCE, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Congress declaration was circulated among national governments and international organizations as a document reflecting the collective will for peace and spiritual interaction (Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev regarding the PR campaign following the First Congress).
This section includes: Documents (concept, program, list of participants, declaration, speeches), photo archive, video film, and an interactive map showing the geography of participants of the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
