News 2

Gandan Monastery holds a a round table on the outcome of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

A round table was held at Gandantegchenling Monastery the Center of Mongolian Buddhists on 23 September 2022 the dedicated to the outcome of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions which was held in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 14-15 September, 2022.

The round table was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Mongolia in collaboration with the Gandantegchenling Monastery.

Representatives of the Buddhist and Muslim clergy, experts and scholars, and the local media took part in the round table.

In his welcoming address, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Mongolia Gabit Koishibayev spoke about the history, goals, priorities and objectives of the Congress, which this year was held under the theme “The role of leaders of world and traditional religions in the spiritual and social development of mankind in the post-pandemic period”.

The Kazakh diplomat noted with satisfaction that religious leaders, politicians, heads of international organizations, who took part in this important international forum, showed unity of views and assessments regarding global problems that the international community is currently facing. He also expressed confidence that the Declaration, adopted at the end of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, will become a spiritual and moral guide for the current generation in the noble cause of building a harmonious world peace.

During the round table, Buddhist clergy who took part in the work of the VII Congress – Da Lama Byambajav Khunkhur of the Gandantecghenling Monastery and Secretary General of the Asian Buddhists Conference for Peace, and Dambajav Choijiljav, the chief Abbot of the Zuun Khuree Dashchoilin Monastery, shared their views on the role of the clergy and religious denominations in ensuring spiritual health and international peace, as well as their impressions of the forum held in the capital of Kazakhstan.

Khadis Batyrbek, Chairman of the Union of Muslim Societies of Mongolia, ex-Ambassador of Mongolia to the Republic of Kazakhstan (2001-2005), Damdinjav Dashnyam, Director of the Institute of Buddhism and Culture at the Dashchoiling Monastery, Gombodorj Myagmarsuren, an expert at the Department of Regional Studies of the Institute of International Studies at the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia shared their visions regarding the current state and future of global interreligious peace and cooperation, as well as their assessment of Kazakhstan’s efforts aimed at strengthening inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational dialogue, including by convening congresses of leaders of world and traditional religions.

Bayar Bayartulga, Director of the TV-9 channel and Bat-Erdene Tsolmon, a journalist of the Suuder Inc portal spoke about their impressions of the trip to Astana to cover the work of the Congress, while Ganbaatar Tumendelger, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Mongolia Today advocated for further strengthening of cooperation between the Kazakh diplomatic mission and the Mongolian media.

The participants in the round table expressed their desire to make such an international meeting a regular event by inviting representatives of all religious denominations of Mongolia, the expert community and the media.