"This letter is most welcome," said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, in response to a letter signed by some 140 world Islamic leaders calling for peace and understanding between the two religions.

The letter, 'A Common World between Us and You', has already received praise from Church of England head, Dr Rowan Williams, as well as Evangelical Alliance leader, Rev Joel Edwards.

Dr Kobia has now added to the warm response to the letter, which was sent to Christian leaders around the globe.

The ecumenical head said that the letter had come at a time when "all of humanity is looking to religious leaders for guidance as to how to respond to the situation of violence in the world".

Dr Kobia added that the letter "gives a lot of hope".

According to the WCC general secretary, the letter "is significant in that it is signed by such a large group of Muslim leaders and scholars from around the world, which makes it unprecedented. Such a rare unity of purpose gives a lot of hope as to what people of faith can achieve together."

Dr Kobia affirmed that "the WCC is ready to cooperate with those who have sent this letter by participating in putting together a concrete process to implement what is being suggested."

"With over 30 years of work in inter-religious relations and dialogue, the WCC is today turning its emphasis to a cooperation which strives to constructively address religion-fuelled conflicts in contemporary plural societies," a release from the WCC has stated.