Calling East and West to Dialogue

In every age, humanity seeks enduring symbols that can outlast conflict and division. Today, as the Asia-Pacific region rises as a driving force of global development, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, becomes one such symbol. It reflects an effort to turn dialogue into cooperation, strengthening understanding among nations.

From the perspective of the Universal Peace Federation’s founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, peace is never the work of one nation alone, but the fruit of interdependence and respect. The SCO Summit reminds us that all peoples are part of one human family, and that security is realized when diverse cultures and traditions find harmony through dialogue and reconciliation.

In 1981, at the International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences (ICUS) in Seoul, Rev. Sun Myung Moon envisioned an International Highway, a global transportation network linking nations and continents. It was conceived not merely as infrastructure, but as a symbol of one human family united beyond borders, envisioning even a physical connection across the Bering Strait that would link Asia and the United States, uniting Eurasia and North America. In spirit it resonates with initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road, which emphasizes connectivity, shared prosperity, and the breaking down of barriers. Both visions highlight that roads are more than physical links: they are pathways of exchange, commerce, and cultural encounter.

The principles enshrined in the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are good neighborliness, equality, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development. They resonate with the values upheld by UPF. Both emphasize that lasting security arises from cooperation and respect rather than confrontation. In this context UPF initiatives, such as the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative, embody this ethos of connection and shared responsibility. By addressing historic divisions in Northeast Asia through dialogue, youth cooperation, and cultural exchange, the initiative complements the SCO’s mission of stability. Just as the International Highway and the Belt and Road envision continents linked for prosperity, the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative seeks to link hearts and communities for peace.

As Dr. Hak Ja Han has reminded the world, the vision of lasting peace begins with families living for the sake of others and expands outward to embrace all humanity. In this spirit, the SCO Summit can be seen as a milestone where nations affirm dialogue over division, and cooperation over rivalry. This vision is consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and SDG 17 on global partnerships.

The Universal Peace Federation highlights these parallels as evidence that diverse traditions and institutions can converge toward the same horizon of peace and prosperity. In this light, we warmly emphasize the value of dialogue between East and West. The path toward global harmony shines brightest when the nations of Eurasia work in friendship, not only among themselves, but also hand in hand with Europe, the Americas, and other regions. Our hope is that the spirit of Tianjin will inspire the SCO to cultivate ever-wider circles of cooperation, turning encounters into friendships and partnerships into shared achievements. When East and West meet in such a spirit, humanity can move together toward its destiny as one human family under God.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President, UPF-International August 30, 2025