Arakan News Agency
To promote understanding, cooperation and partnership among communities across South and Southeast Asia, a conference was held in Bangkok from December 18 to 20 to discuss ways to promote religious and cultural coexistence, including religious leaders, civil society leaders, academics, policy makers and intellectuals from Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore and Malaysia.
The conference was sponsored by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, based in Vienna, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and with the support of the Thai Council for Peace and Inter-religious Dialogue.
Participants will discuss current challenges to interfaith coexistence in South and South-East Asia, particularly with regard to the relationship between Muslims and Buddhists, and propose policies, recommendations and action points that will enhance their protection and acceptance in their respective countries.
Participants in the conference will discuss the historical development of Muslim-Buddhist relations in South and Southeast Asia and explore the challenges associated with identity and belonging within multi-ethnic societies and religions.
“Buddhism and Islam share deep roots in the history of South and Southeast Asia, and these two religions have shaped the region for centuries and contributed to enriching every direction,” said Safi Ullah Mansour, program director at the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue. From the walks of life, arts, culture, music and literature in their countries. “
“It is regrettable that the manipulation of religion by some forces and the misinterpretation of religion by others is now threatening to dispel the spirit of coexistence among these groups. We must return to the common principles of peace and coexistence that these two religions share, and religious leaders must be at the forefront of these efforts. “
“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stresses the importance of intercultural encounters, dialogue and exchanges between leaders of different faiths in order to build bridges of understanding, mutual respect and trust,” a spokesman for the organization said.
The OIC hoped to involve religious leaders and policy makers in a constructive dialogue on ways to achieve harmony and harmony among multi-religious communities, including the Buddhist and Muslim communities, throughout the region, not only for the well-being of the followers of the Islamic and Buddhist religions, but also For the good of all humanity. “
