Indonesian President's Special Envoy for Interfaith Dialogue and Inter-Civilization Dialogue (UKP-DKAAP) Din Syamsuddin said his side is going to hold the seventh World Peace Forum (WPF) in Jakarta on August 14-16, 2018. The forum is held in collaboration with the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilization (CDCC) and a Malaysian non-governmental organization, Cheng Ho Multi Cultural and Education Trust. The theme of the seventh WPF was "the Middle Path for the New World Civilization." In his press statement in Jakarta on Monday (Aug 13), Din Syamsudin emphasized that the seventh WPF is not an interfaith dialogue, but the scope is broader because it will involve various parties with different backgrounds such as religious leaders, peace activists, policy makers, and academics.
"This is not an interfaith dialogue. So there are religious leaders, religious leaders, and representatives of the international religious assemblies will be present. Both from the Vatican, the WCC, the World Buddhist Fellowship, the Hindu Association, the International Islamic Organization, various religious figures, including Jews, there will be representatives later. But besides religious leaders there are also scientific figures, and intellectuals, a number of professors involved in the creation in this world will also be present," Din Syamsudin said.
Furthermore, Din Syamsudin explained, of the hundreds of participants present , a number of important invitation figures had confirmed to attend the seventh WPF, including former East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and former East Timorese President Mar'i Alkatiri. Also present at the forum will be Federative President of Micronesia Peter Christian and Russian Foreign Ministry Envoy KV Shuvalov. The forum will also be attended by delegates from the Middle East, such as Palestinian President Adviser on Religion and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al Habbash and Secretary General of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of the Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAAICID) Center and former World Religion and Peace Chair Bishop Gunnar Stalsett, as well as various other important figures from 40 countries and international organizations. (VOI / Rezha/AHM)