Intl. conference on dialogue among religions kicks off in Tehran

TEHRAN, Sept. 12 (MNA) -- The International Conference on Dialogue among Religions and Cultures in Asia kicked off here on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies.

Cosponsored by the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) and Iranian Parliament (Majlis), over 40 foreign guests from 21 Asian countries are attending the two-day conference, said secretary of the event Mohammadreza Dehshiri.

The guests are coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon and several others, with representatives coming from Russia and Australia as well.

Stressing enduring values in the field of religion and culture, and the eradication of violence and poverty are some of the major aims of the conference, Dehshiri added.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, ICRO Director Mohammad-Baqer Khorramshad regarded religion and culture a guarantee for the development of unity.

He said that religion plays a significant role in regional unity and acts as the best means to promote peace and spirituality in the region.

Khorramshad regarded the conference the best means to reach a milestone in international ties helping to achieve peace based on culture and religion.