RI, ITALY HOLD CONFERENCE ON COEXISTENCE AMONG DIFFERENT FAITHS

London, March 5 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian and Italian governments, in cooperation with Comunita di Sant-Egidio, held a conference themed "Unity in Diversity, the Culture of Coexistence in Indonesia" in Rome on Wednesday.
"The objective of the conference is to improve understanding on Islam in Indonesia and ways to coexist in perfect harmony with followers of other faiths and cultures," a spokesman of the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, Musurifun Lajawa, told Antara here on Wednesday.
He said the conference was intended to build a high-level dialog between representatives of Muslim organizations in Indonesia and experts from Italy to improve mutual understanding about Islam in Indonesia.
According to Musurifun Lajawa, better understanding about Indonesia would pave the way for the two countries to establish "win-win" cooperation in the economic, trade, investment, social and cultural, scientific and technological fields.
The main topics of the conference were "Christianity and Islam for a Culture of Coexistence," and "Civil Society, Islam, Coexistence."
Present as speakers at the conference from the Indonesian side were Prof Hasyim Muzadi, Prof Bahtiar Effendi, Prof Siti Musdah Mulia, Prof Azyumardi Azra, Mons. Martinus Situmorang while the Italian side was represented by Prof Renzo Guolo and Prof Francesco Zannini.
The more than 200 participants of the conference consisted of government officials, members of parliament, foreign representatives, academics, religious figures, and non-governmental organization activists.
On a separate occasion, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and his Italian counterpart Franco Frattinni would hold talks on bilateral, regional and international issues.
The two ministers were also scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding on consultations between the two countries' foreign affairs ministries.
On Thursday, Hassan Wirayuda would host a breakfast meeting with Friends of Indonesia which is made up of business makers, members of parliament, think tanks, and religious figures.