Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa here Monday officially opened the first Indonesia-US interfaith dialogue that will run until January 27, in Jakarta on Monday.

He said he hoped the dialogue would further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the social and cultural sectors.

Themed “Building Collaborative Communities: Enhancing Cooperation among People of Different Faiths”, the dialogue is a follow up action from both countries to enhance bilateral relation and understanding between people coming from different backgrounds and religious belief.

The three-day event will have think tanks and academics from both countries discuss possible bilateral cooperation in such things as empowerment of moderate societies and ways to cope with negative images already constructed among people from both countries.

Another issues to be discussed during the interfaith dialogue are steps to promote harmonious life in human civilization, ways to tackle poverty, climate change and enhance cooperation in cultural and governmental sectors.

The result of the discussion is expected to be applicable in the everyday life of people in both countries.

On the same occasion, Minister Natalegawa also launched a book containing comments by prominent US figures about Indonesia. The book entitled “Insight into Indonesia: The Perspectives of Americans”, It contains writings from former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and several Congressmen.

Source : Antara