The leader of Burma’s pro-democracy party Aung San Suu Kyi has spoken of the need for people of different faiths to unite.

In a recorded message for the annual conference of Christian Solidarity Worldwide [CSW] at the weekend, she praised the organisation for achieving solidarity between people of different religions.

“Although we call it Christian Solidarity Worldwide, it is well known that peoples of all races and religions have been protected and helped by your organisation. This is such a good example for the whole world," she said.

“We do not have to be divided because we belong to different countries, or different races, or different religions. We can all unite together in solidarity, for values that are shared by those who love humanity.”

She went on to speak of the love at the heart of Christianity as she reiterated the need for all peoples of faith to “join together to promote solidarity in our world today”.

“As we progress into the 21st century there will be more challenges to face,” she said.

“The temptation to hate, the temptation to divide into different groups and different thought patterns will be very great so we need people like [CSW] who will help to achieve solidarity and teach everybody that solidarity only needs one thing common to us – our common humanity.”

The conference in London was joined by the Rev Carlos Lamelas, a Cuban pastor who has experienced years of government persecution and has just been granted asylum in the US after spending 126 days in jail on false charges.

He told of how his faith had sustained him during the “darkness” of his time in a cramped, windowless cell with three other prisoners.

He said he and his family had been encouraged by phone calls and visits from CSW staff, and letters and cards sent by CSW supporters.

“When people from CSW came to visit me, I realised that I was not alone. They encouraged me.”

His wife Uramis Lamelas said, “It was incredible. It was comforting to know that someone was thinking of us and suffering with us. It was encouraging us a lot.

“Those visits gave me strength because there were times where we felt we were nobody in our own country.

“Visits, letters, phone calls, they all encouraged us to keep going. I felt a huge relief in my heart, both then and now.”