Australia had sent a multi-faith delegation to the 6th Regional Interfaith Dialogue held in Semarang from March 11-15. The delegation welcomed the release of the Plan of Action.
Australian delegation leader Tim Fischer AC, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and former Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, at the opening session of the Dialogue said, "I am pleased to see the Regional Interfaith Dialogue return to its roots, to Indonesia, and especially to this unique setting of Semarang, a place of many faiths and cultures. We are promoting dialogue of course, but equally encouraging and inspiring our community members to take action in their own communities, in cooperation with the wider region."
This year`s theme was `Strengthening Collaborative Communities to Promote Regional Peace and Security: Interfaith in Action`. Delegates shared their experiences of promoting interfaith dialogue and discussed concrete programs and cooperative activities that could be taken forward under the Plan of Action.
The Plan of Action includes activities to increase awareness and understanding of religions and traditions of faith in the region through active engagement by civil society organisations with the youth, schools, media and government.
The Regional Interfaith Dialogue in Semarang was the latest regional dialogue involving the participation of religious leaders, civil society, academia and media. The 6th Regional Interfaith Dialogue was attended by 120 delegates from co-sponsoring countries Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines, as well as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
Australia and Indonesia are the founders of the Regional Interfaith Dialogue, which was first held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2004. Other Dialogues have included: Cebu, Philippines (2006); Waitangi, New Zealand (2007); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2008), and Perth, Australia (2009).
(T.A014/KR-BSR//INE/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
