Interactive Historical and Documentary Online Exhibition

Interfaith Dialogue
for Peace and Harmony

Astana, September 17-18, 2025.

The Eighth Congress: "Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the sake of the future"

The Eighth Congress became a new milestone in the international arena of interreligious dialogue. More than 100 delegations from around 60 countries took part in the event, including spiritual leaders of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism, and other faiths. Kazakhstan once again served as a platform for global interaction among religious communities, reaffirming its role as a key hub for interfaith dialogue.
Main Theme of the Forum: “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the sake of the future.”
A significant innovation of this Congress was the integration of issues related to the digitalization of religious life. For the first time at such a high level, topics of religious identity, ethics, and communication in the digital era were discussed.
Priority Areas of Discussion
Among the key topics were:

• The role of religion and religious leaders in strengthening peace and social cohesion
• Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue
• Countering extremism and terrorism
• The importance of women and youth in religious communities and sustainable societal development
• Ethics, faith, and spirituality in the digital and technological age
• Protection of religious sites and sacred places as part of cultural and spiritual heritage
• Environmental challenges, climate risks, and responsibility toward future generations

Final Declaration of the Eighth Congress
At the conclusion of the forum, participants adopted the Astana Peace Declaration 2025, which reaffirms their commitment to deepen interfaith dialogue, condemn wars, extremism, and terrorism, and draw attention to environmental issues, as well as the role of women and youth in building a just and sustainable society.
The Declaration includes provisions aimed at strengthening peace, promoting mutual respect among cultures and religions, enhancing digital cooperation, and combating hate speech.
Significance and Prospects
The Congress reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s leading role as a platform of trust between religious communities and states.
It is intended to stimulate new formats of interreligious cooperation and respond to the challenges of modern times - from digital transformation to environmental and humanitarian threats.