Mr.Khushwant Singh( middle) the Head of PaRD Secretariat with the Minister for Religious Affairs of Indonesia and Secretary General during PaRD's Leadership meeting in Jakarta on February 4th.
Jakarta, Indonesia – The International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) is convening its Leadership Meeting in Jakarta, where leaders from the PaRD Steering Group and members of the Indonesian government have gathered to discuss the critical role of religion in sustainable development.
During the opening session, PaRD Secretariat Head Khushwant Singh underscored the meeting’s primary goal: to create space for building, realizing, and implementing partnerships that contribute to social and sustainable development across the globe. Singh emphasized that the forum is more than just a gathering of minds; it is a platform for action, aiming to design tangible solutions to global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and the pursuit of world peace.
“When we study all religions, we eventually realize that there is one universal religion – the religion of compassion, justice, and care for Mother Earth,” Singh remarked, reflecting on the shared values that underpin all faith traditions.
Ahmad Zayadi, the Director of Islamic Religious Information at Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, also spoke on the importance of this meeting. Zayadi highlighted Indonesia’s longstanding commitment to interreligious harmony, stating that this meeting presents a key opportunity for the nation to strengthen its position as a global center for religious moderation and interfaith dialogue.
“Indonesia has a long experience in building interreligious harmony. As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has a responsibility to make a real contribution to building a more peaceful and inclusive world,” Zayadi said.
The forum further introduced the concept of religious moderation, which has been central to Indonesia’s Ministry of Religion’s policy. This approach encourages peaceful coexistence among different religious groups and advocates for a balanced approach to faith that promotes social unity and harmony.
The 2025 PaRD Leadership Meeting saw the participation of ambassadors and country representatives from various nations, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Brazil, Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam, underscoring the international support for the forum’s mission.
This gathering marks an important step in reinforcing religious cooperation and advancing sustainable development through partnerships based on shared human values.
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