The theme of the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Interfaith Dialogue speaks volumes for what it stands for: "Deepening Interfaith Dialogue for Peace, Development and Harmony."

"There is an urgent need to strengthen interfaith dialogue to boost mutual understanding and promote world harmony in an era of globalization," Ismail Amat, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said at the ASEM annual dialogue, which opened in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province yesterday.

China has engaged itself in building a harmonious society in which religion can play an important role, he said, adding that harmony is an essence of the Chinese culture nurtured by the 56 ethnic groups and freedom of religious belief is fully safeguarded for every citizen in the country's law and policies.

Noting that the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue serves as a multiethnic and multicultural platform, he called for fully tapping its potential to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation for a harmonious world of peace and prosperity.

Co-chaired by Cui Tiankai, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China and Senator Gianni Vernetti, undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two-day dialogue brought together religious and political leaders, academics and intellectuals from Asia and Europe to discuss four topics: Dealing with the interfaith dialogue and globalization, peace, social cohesion and development, and the promotion of cultural and educational cooperation.

"Culture and religion must be increasingly involved in fostering peace," Vernetti said, stressing that as a significant dimension of Asia-Europe collaboration, interfaith dialogue is very positive for encouraging social cohesion and overcoming religious prejudices.

ASEM is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together the 27 EU members and the European Commission with 16 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.

(China Daily June 21, 2007)