New York, Nov 11 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to arrive at the United Nations today to participate in the global dialogue about religion, culture and common values.

Zardari will be accompanied by a five-member delegation, including his country’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

More than 54 heads of state and government, foreign ministers and senior officials have so far confirmed that they would attend the two-day ‘High-Level Meeting on Culture of Peace’, reported the Daily Times.

To begin Wednesday, the meeting would be addressed by US President George Bush on Thursday. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, at whose initiative this gathering of world leaders is taking place, will lead his country’s delegation.

Also attending the event will be Israeli President Shimon Peres, who will be accompanied by his Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

India will be represented by its Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

The New York meeting is an offshoot of an inter-faith conference organised by King Abdullah and King Juan Carlos of Spain in July this year, which was attended by representatives of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and other religions.

UN General Assembly president Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann will open the meeting and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will present a welcome address. It is not yet clear if a declaration will be issued at the end of the two-day event. (ANI)