About the speech of K.- J. Tokayev at the VIII Congress of World and Traditional Religions

About the speech of K.- J. Tokayev at the VIII Congress of World and Traditional Religions

More than one hundred delegations from sixty countries took part in the VIII Congress of World and Traditional Religions, which opened on September 17, 2025. The leaders of the clergy of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism, as well as representatives of international organizations, the expert community, political and public figures gathered for the eighth time in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to discuss topical issues of the development of the world community and the role of the clergy in their solution. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym - Jomart Tokayev, who chairs the Congress, addressed the delegates of the forum.
Expressing gratitude to the audience for participating in the forum, the leader of Kazakhstan emphasized the exceptional role of the Congress, directing humanity "to achieve good goals." The geopolitical position of Kazakhstan has necessitated the country's development along the lines of a multi - vector nature: the territory has historically been characterized by multi - nationality, peaceful coexistence of all major world religions and confessions. This explains the presence of various kinds of religious shrines in Kazakhstan, carefully protected by the state and ordinary residents. The Head of state announced amazing figures, in our opinion.: "There are about four thousand religious associations in Kazakhstan, representing 18 faiths." This numbers speak for themselves!
Of course, the President of Kazakhstan could not help but dwell on the international situation, which is throwing up new and new challenges, becoming more complicated due to the actions of the ruling elites: "Their policy is far from always rational and constructive in terms of developing peaceful dialogue and interaction between cultures, religions, and worldviews." In this regard, speaking about the political course of Kazakhstan, K.- J. Tokayev emphasized: "I consider it fundamentally important to pursue a policy of interethnic, interreligious, interethnic tolerance and mutual respect." Once again, our leader highlighted the fundamental role of the concept of "Law and Order" put forward by him: "Ensuring stability in society and the security of citizens based on the concept of "Law and Order" is a key point of our domestic policy."
Expressing hope for the creative activity of religious leaders, for their exceptional ability to prevent the catastrophe of the universe, the leader of Kazakhstan emphasized that it is "religion that becomes a powerful consolidating force when we act together." Further, the Head of Kazakhstan called on religious hierarchs to "become the moral core of the Peace Movement under the auspices of the Congress with a neutral, non - politicized call for an end to violence and the search for peaceful solutions." This initiative, based on the principles of humanism, is capable of leading not only believers, but also those in power and responsible for decision - making.
I would like to mention one more remarkable thesis by K.- J. Tokayev on strengthening the dialogue between representatives of religions and the scientific and expert community. "The synthesis of spiritual wisdom and expert knowledge can be the key to finding effective solutions to pressing global and regional problems."
By tradition, the speech of the head of our country at the VIII Congress of World and Traditional Religions was a kind of program document containing specific proposals for solving urgent global problems.

A. K. Akhmedova
Senior lecturer of the Department of Language and
General Education Training of Foreigners
of the Faculty of Pre - University Education
Al - Farabi Kazakh National University