The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), formerly known as the Secretariat for non-Chnstians, organizes meetings, periodically, at the continental levels, with its Consultors. The first such meeting, at the Asian level, dates back to 1988 when both the PCID and Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (OEIA) of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) jointly organized at the Salesian Retreat House, Hua Hin, Thailand, from September 23rd to 29th with 'Dialogue at a turning point: The Asian Perspective' as its theme. In his invitation letter to the Consultors, dated 22 December, 1987, Cardinal Francis Arinze, the then President of this Pontifical Council stated that the objective of the meeting was 'to exchange information on the dialogue situations in different countries of Asia, to reflect on the theological underpinning for dialogue and to explore possibilities of increased cooperation' with followers of other religious traditions. Each successive meeting, since then, has been motivated and animated by this objective.

　　The PCID held its second meeting at the same venue, on 22-28 June, 1991, in joint collaboration, again, with the OEIA/FABC. Besides reporting on interreligious situations and endeavors in their respective countries, the participants deliberated on the theme of 'Interreligious Dialogue: Fresh horizons for communion and cooperation today'. In these two meetings, besides the Consultors and the Staff members of both the PCID and OEIA/FABC, some experts and special invitees participated as well.

　　The third meeting convened at the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery, Bangalore, India from July 5th to 8th, 1998, had also representatives, for the first time, from the Pacific Oceanic Region following a suggestion from the previous meeting in Hua Hin that this Region be also invited. In addition the Secretaries of National Episcopal Commissions for Interreligious Dialogue in Asia were participating, following the suggestion of the aforesaid meeting. It focused on two themes: 1. preparing for the Great Jubilee, 2000 2. Follow-up to the Synod for Asia.

　　Aaron's Retreat House, Suwon, Korea, was the place of the last meeting on 24-27 September, 2002. This time the theme was: 'Interreligious Dialogue is the way to face together the various problems in Asia'.

　　The meeting at Baan Phu Waan, Sampran, Thailand, from 12-19 July 2010 is the fifth such meeting with the Asian Consultors. Drawing from past experiences, it has been deemed more appropriate to include, in the consultations, the Members as well as Chairmen of National Episcopal Commissions for Interreligious Dialogue of Asian countries that have no representation in the Dicastery, either as a Member or a Consultor, for a more comprehensive picture of the interreligious situation and concerted interreligious dialogue endeavors in Asia.