Some 200 officials, religious leaders and social activists from 37 states in Asia and Europe, along with representatives of six international organisations attended the meeting in the historic city of Nanjing to discuss ways to promote peace, development and harmony.

They discussed the implications of globalisation, peace, social cohesion and development, as well as cooperation on culture and education.

The meeting was co-chaired by China and Italy.

Religion and faith had an extensive impact on international political and social life, said Ismail Amat, China's vice chairman of the Standing Committee for the National People's Congress. All religions advocated peace and justice, he added, but violence, war, hatred and disturbance under the disguise of religion still happened.

"It's distressing to see that confrontation and conflicts caused by prejudice, misunderstanding and intolerance are far from being eliminated," he said in the opening session.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Under-secretary of State, Gianni Vernetti said countries must condemn the action of using religion as a pretext to justify violence.

"This is what often happens in conflicts that are improperly called 'wars of religion', in which the religious elements, even without being the actual trigger, are used by those manipulating it, to fuel it. This problem also relates to terrorism and reference to religions as a means of justifying it," Vernetti said.

The role of Asem's dialogue was, he said, to try to overcome philosophical and religious extremism, stereotypes, prejudices and ignorance. 

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Nanjing, China