Monday 9 February 1998

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey and the President of the World Bank, James D Wolfensohn, will be hosting a Dialogue, "World Faiths and Development" at Lambeth Palace, London, on February 18-19 1998. Leaders from the following nine world Faiths, including the main traditions within the Faiths will participate: Bahai; Buddhist; Christian; Hindu; Jains; Jewish; Muslim; Sikh and Taoist.

The main aim of the Dialogue is the broaden opportunites for common understanding and action in tackling the critical issue of global poverty. It is designed to help the Bank and the Faiths to reach a better understanding of each other’s ideas about approaches to development and possible obstacles in the way of achieving desirable development aims. The Dialogue will discuss how the criteria applied in development policies might continue to be broadened to include the notion of cultural, religious and social structures and values. This meeting represents an important step towards a new relationship between the World Bank and the Faiths.

Some advisers from the different Faiths were involved in a preparatory meeting held at the World Bank in Washington DC in May 1997. Arrangements for the February 1998 meeting were then refined in discussions between the World Bank and Lambeth Palace with help from the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC).

Further media information including the Agenda and a list of attendees with biographical details will be available from Monday 9^th February on the following websites:

Archbishop of Canterbury: http://www.church-of-england.org/main/lambeth/abchome.htm

The World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/faithsdialogue/

or from the contact names below.

A copy of the joint statement from the meeting’s two co-chairs, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey and the President of the World Bank, Mr James D Wolfensohn, will be posted on the above websites at 15.00GMT on Thursday, 19 February following the conclusion of the Dialogue.