Taipei, Taiwan—UPF and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) in Taiwan celebrated UN World Interfaith Harmony Week with the Cross-strait Peace Interreligious Prayer Meeting, held on February 8, 2022 at the Buddhist temple Zhengfa Shan Guang Yuan De Cang in Taichung, Taiwan. The event brought together leaders and representatives of 12 religions and faith traditions—including Catholicism, Buddhism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ikuantao and the Unification Church—to pray for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and was attended by 88 people.
Among the co-organizers of the event were Zhengfa Shan Guang Yuan De Cang, the National Religious Federation Development Foundation, Taiwan Wei Xin Association for World Peace and Zhonghua Yuxian Xuanmen Zhenzong Jiao Hui.
The welcome address was given by UPF-Taiwan president, Dr. Yen-Po Tang, who greeted all the attendees and thanked the 12 religious leaders. He said that “Every religion upholds their own dogmas and beliefs, but it cannot be denied that there is still some conflict or discrimination between religions. The United Nations has placed special emphasis on promoting mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue, which are important factors for world peace. Therefore, no religion can solve all problems on behalf of the divine. Only through cross-sectarianism, love for God and love for our neighbors as if everyone belongs to one family like brothers and sisters can mutual understanding and cooperation be created.” He encouraged everyone to seek to understand every religious ideology and promote integration in society.
UPF-Taiwan vice president, Mr. Tuo Huan Chen, served as the moderator.