A/RES/71/249 Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace Recalling its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Bearing in mind the valuable contribution that interreligious and intercultural dialogue can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Noting that interreligious and intercultural dialogue has made significant contributions to mutual understanding, tolerance and respect, as well as to the promotion of a culture of peace and an improvement of overall relations among people from different cultural and religious backgrounds and among nations, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are sources of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribu te to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Noting the Unite for Heritage campaign launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in March 2015 , which aims to celebrate and safeguard cultural heritage and diversity around the world, Recalling that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely, Bearing in mind that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities contributes towards peace, mutual understanding and friendship among people of different cultures and nations and that these diversities should be made part of intercultural and interreligious dialogue efforts, as appropriate, Welcoming the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2 and acknowledging that the Agenda includes the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, Noting the various initiatives at the local, national, regional and international levels for enhancing interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation, which are mutually reinforcing and interrelated, Acknowledging that relevant components of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (the Belt and Road) Initiative strengthen people-to-people bonds and promote mutual understanding and cooperation, Noting the fifth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions , held in Astana in June 2015, Welcoming the leading role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as well as the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, in promoting intercultural dialogue, _______________ 2 2/6 Resolution 70/1.