At the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the launch of a long-term development strategy for the Congress, crafted by its Secretariat and extending through 2033, Kazinform reports.
The strategy aims to reinforce global interfaith cooperation based on peace, constructive coexistence, and shared moral values — priorities made urgent by today’s escalating geopolitical tensions.
President Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan’s historic role as a centuries-old crossroads of civilizations and faiths, where major world religions have peacefully coexisted. He emphasized that modern Kazakhstan consciously preserves and builds upon this legacy, embedding it into the core of national policy.
Central to the country’s model of tolerance, he noted, is the principle of “unity in diversity,” effectively institutionalized through the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan — an entity widely regarded as unique on the global stage. This same philosophy of mutual respect and dialogue underpins Kazakhstan’s peaceful, balanced, and trust-based foreign policy.
Tokayev expressed confidence that Kazakhstan’s experience in fostering interethnic and interreligious harmony can serve as a valuable reference for other nations, demonstrating how openness, cooperation, and trust can prevail amid global fragmentation and division.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
Sept. 17, 2025