Hindus have applauded Singapore based Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for using interfaith dialogue for strengthening relationship between Europe and Asia.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that serious and honest interfaith dialogue was the need of the hour. Religion was the most powerful, complex and far-reaching force in our society, so we must take it seriously. And we all knew that religion comprised much more than our own particular tradition/experience.

Fifth such interfaith dialogue will be held in Seoul (South Korea) from September 23 to 25 next, to be jointly hosted by governments of Finland and South Korea.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that in our shared pursuit for the truth, we could learn from one another and thus could arrive nearer to the truth. Dialogue might help us vanquish the stereotypes, prejudices, caricatures, etc., passed on to us from previous generations.

The fourth such dialogue, held at Amsterdam (Netherlands) in June last, discussed the linkage of interfaith dialogue with poverty reduction, religious education, communications in the digital world, government policies, etc.

Established in 1996, ASEM has 45 members, including 27 European and 16 Asian countries, besides European Commission and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. Current coordinators are Cambodia, India, Czech Republic, and European Commission.