7th Congress of leaders of World and Traditional Religions begins in Kazakhstan.

NUR SULTAN -- The seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions began in Kazakhstan's capital Nur Sultan on Wednesday.

The congress convened under the chairmanship of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Independence Palace.

A total of 100 people from 50 countries, including Catholic spiritual leader Pope Francis, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb, and Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, participated in the congress.

In the opening ceremony, Tokayev said the congress, which was launched in 2003 on the initiative of Kazakhstan, has become a forum for dialogue between civilizations at the global level.

Stressing that over 100 different ethnic groups live in harmony in Kazakhstan, he said that some 4,000 different religious organizations are also operating in the country.

'Kazakh lands have served as a bridge between the West and the East for centuries. It has witnessed various nomadic empires passing through the great steppe. The...