The meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" will be held in Kuala Lumpur in 2023 to mark the 20th anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit and his declaration of the country's intention to join the Organization of the Islamic Conference as an observer, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said on Friday during a meeting of the GSV "Russia-Islamic World" in Kazan.
"Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's visit to Malaysia and his statement on Russia's intention to join the Organization of the Islamic Conference as an observer. We are now working on organizing a meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" to coincide with the anniversary date in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur," Minnikhanov said.
He noted that long-term interaction between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world demonstrates a great interest in building cooperation and maintaining dialogue.
In 2021, the GSV "Russia-Islamic World" held a meeting in Saudi Arabia. "The results of our meetings in Jeddah became an important contribution to the process of cooperation of the Russian Federation with Muslim countries and were positively assessed in the Islamic world," Minnikhanov said.
The meeting in Kazan was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria. According to the decision of President Vladimir Putin, the anniversary is celebrated on the state level.
Interreligious relations in Tatarstan
According to Minnikhanov, more than 80% of residents of Tatarstan positively assessed interreligious relations in the republic.
"Undoubtedly, the work we do contributes to preserving the ethnic and religious identity of representatives of different nations and to forming a perception of Tatarstan as our common home. According to sociological surveys, more than 80% of Tatarstanis have a positive opinion of the state of interethnic and interreligious relations," said Minnikhanov.
He also noted that three quarters of Tatarstan's population feel the same connection to all-Russian and republican identities.
Minnikhanov also stressed that great importance is now attached to the study of international experience. "I sincerely hope that constructive and meaningful discussions will be held within the framework of today's event, and that your ideas and initiatives will serve to strengthen trust and mutual understanding between our countries and will form the basis for new directions of global interaction," said the President of Tatarstan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS