The Philippines, Finland and the European Union (EU) will host the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Dialogue (ASEM-IFD7) on October 13 and 14 2011 at the Sofitel Hotel, Manila.
The meeting will have the theme “Harnessing the benefits and addressing the challenges of migration through interfaith and intercultural dialogue”.
Vice President Jejomar Binay will deliver the keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony on October 13. He will be joined by Finnish Minister of the Interior and Church Affairs Pӓivi Rӓsӓnen and EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux as co-chairs of the ASEM-IFD7.
Around 200 delegates from Asia and Europe composed of representatives from government, faith-based organizations, and civil society will exchange views on the following sub-themes:
Fostering social harmony and mutual understanding between migrant communities and host community through interfaith and intercultural dialogue;
Promoting dialogue among migrant communities of different faiths; and
The role of new media in forging mutual trust and confidence in multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies.
Resource speakers and moderators will come from Australia, Austria, China, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the EU, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The ASEM Interfaith Dialogue is an annual event participated in by government representatives and civil society organizations from 48 ASEM partners, namely the 27 EU member countries, 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, the European Commission, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
It started in 2005 with Indonesia as host. The 6th ASEM IFD was held in Toledo and Madrid in Spain in 2010.
