Asia Pacific—The fifth session of the July 28-29 International Leadership Conference 2021 (ILC2021) for UPF’s Asia Pacific region was held on July 29, on the theme, “Toward Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula: Humanitarian and Private Sector Initiatives.” In total, 4,662 people registered for this event and 463 watched it live on Zoom and thousands more did so on YouTube and Facebook Live.
Dr. Thomas Mc Devitt, chairman of The Washington Times, opened the session with special remarks in which he acknowledged the statement of UPF founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon that we are now living in an Asia Pacific era. He commended Mrs. Moon’s strategy of using seven areas, including religion and business, to bring about world peace.
Afterwards, Mr. Roland Jabbour, president and national chairman of the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australia, spoke on the use of soft power to influence the realm of politics. Based on his experience in Australia–Middle East relations, he offered solutions of how North Korea and South Korea can achieve a common vision of peace.
Mr. Ameya Prabhu, chairperson of the Indian Chamber of Commerce Western Region Committee, India, encouraged a focus on the common base between the two Koreas. He proposed a cultural exchange between the nations and initiatives be developed to engage with the people of North Korea.
Ms. Preethi Bhardwaj Rama Nand, executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia (2020), suggested three initiatives to support Korean reunification: (i) letter and postcard writing, (ii) social media campaigns and (iii) making use of education.
Finally, Dr. Tan Monivann, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, Cambodia, offered support on behalf of the association and the prime minister of Cambodia in hope that the two brother nations will reunite.
The program closed with a Q&A session. Rev. Yutaka Yamada, director of UPF- Oceania, served as the moderator.