CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE KEY IN RESOLVING CONFLICTS, SAYS RETNO MARSUDI

JAKARTA, July 11 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has expressed confidence that constructive dialogue is crucial for resolving various conflicts around the world.

Her analysis indicates that while these conflicts are not inherently religious, religious elements often escalate tensions.

"Therefore, understanding diverse religions becomes very important, an effort that must always be maintained,” she said at the International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy here, on Wednesday.

Retno emphasised that the freedom of every religion must be legally guaranteed, diversity must be respected, and religious differences should not lead to fanaticism and tension.

"In this regard, there are three agendas where Indonesia actively works with the international community, namely strengthening tolerance, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging interfaith collaboration," she added.

The two-day conference which ended Thursday saw participation from 37 countries, including speakers, moderators, participants, and foreign ambassadors in Jakarta during the opening session.

The conference-themed “Multi-faith Collaborations in an Inclusive Society” highlights the growing need for collaboration among people of different religions and beliefs.

It emphasises the importance of learning from and working with each other, while respecting religious differences, to tackle shared issues.

-- BERNAMA