Jokowi Inaugurates ASEAN inter-Religious Conference in Jakarta

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated the ASEAN Inter-Cultural and Inter-Religious Dialogue Conference (IIDC) in Jakarta on Monday, August 7, 2023. During his opening remarks, Jokowi hoped that ASEAN could be a model of tolerance and unity amidst the growing global conflicts and dwindling religious spirit of the world. 

"I'm certain ASEAN is able to not only be the epicenter of growth but the epicenter of harmony, anchoring the stability of the region and world peace," he said.

Nahdlatul Ulama, the religious organization in Indonesia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, initiated the two-day conference this week as part of the ASEAN Summit in the upcoming September.

ASEAN IIDC 2023 raised the theme of "ASEAN Shared Civilizational Values: Building an Epicentrum of Harmony to Foster Peace, Security, and Prosperity", with the purpose of fostering harmony and peace from religious perspectives in the middle of the global dynamics.

The Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Yahya Cholil Staquf echoes this initiative as a "consolidation of a big civilization to encourage the growth of harmony, tolerance, and peace. Yahya hoped that the result of this conference is influential politically, to sway the consideration of the ASEAN Summit.

Around 200 participants and speakers have confirmed their attendance. Nahdlatul Ulama also mentioned that Myanmar, prohibited to attend the summit, will send two delegates and the leader of the Buddhist Education Center to attend the conference.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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