Kazakhstan’s Spiritual Diplomacy: Moving From Interfaith Dialogue to Global Action
Kazakhstan faces a difficult transition as its 23-year-old interfaith dialogue project moves from hosting high-level diplomatic summits to practical global outcomes on artificial intelligence and humanitarian relief. Inter Press Service reported that delegates meeting in Astana on October 7, 2026, confronted the reality that political declarations must translate into sustained cooperation to retain credibility.
The 24th Secretariat Meeting in Astana
Religious leaders, international organizations, and government officials gathered at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation for the 24th Secretariat meeting of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Vice President Erlan Karin told the 38 delegates that spiritual diplomacy cannot replace traditional politics, but it serves to keep communication channels open where diplomatic dialogue is difficult. Global Issues noted that the meeting convened against a backdrop of deep international divisions over war, political distrust, and competing ideologies.
Founding and Evolution of the Congress
First President Nursultan Nazarbayev established the Congress in 2003, starting with 17 delegations from 13 countries. The forum evolved into a triennial gathering that anchors Kazakhstan’s foreign policy between major powers like Russia and China. Pope Francis attended the seventh Congress in 2022 alongside the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb. The eighth Congress followed in September 2025, culminating in the Astana Peace Declaration under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Shifting Toward Practical Action
Participants at the recent Secretariat session questioned whether recurring conferences can influence events outside the meeting rooms. Father Laurent Basanese of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue emphasized that the importance of translating interfaith declarations into sustained cooperation.
Commission Drafts AI Code Based on Kazakh Cultural Heritage
The 2026 meeting yielded documentation based on President Tokayev’s prior proposals. An interreligious commission of 24 members drafted an artificial intelligence code addressing human dignity, freedom of conscience, and the dangers of algorithmic manipulation. The code draws on amanat, a concept rooted in Kazakh cultural heritage that emphasizes responsibility for preserving what one generation receives and passes to the next.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev presented a joint charter developed with the Holy See to protect the rights and dignity of children with incurable diseases, demonstrating how spiritual platforms can provide direct humanitarian assistance.
The Proposed Global Movement for Peace
Organizers plan to draft a phased implementation concept by 2027. While this initiative remains an unestablished framework, it highlights a fundamental shift in Kazakhstan’s strategy: moving past the mere act of assembling diverse religious figures to asking what they are prepared to accomplish together.