The attack on inter-faith harmony and mutual trust, especially in light of recent attacks in Christchurch and Sri Lanka, is the world’s “single most important threat”, King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Thursday (Jun 20).

Delivering the keynote speech at the inaugural International Conference of Cohesive Societies (ICCS) in Singapore, the king said there is an urgent need to tackle “the attack on inter-faith harmony, mutual respect and trust”.

“I say ‘single most’ (threat), because every global challenge in this 21st century demands we resist hatred and exclusion,” he said.

“Economic growth, peacemaking, protecting the environment, global security, inclusive opportunity – all these critical goals require that we cooperate, and combine our strengths to our common benefit.”