- Former U.S. president Trump, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. . . give social speeches
- The inauguration ceremony of the Korean Peninsula Peace SUMMIT Organizing Committee was held
Former and current presidents have stepped up for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula and world peace amid rising tensions in inter-Korean relations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instability in the global economy, and the new Cold War system in Northeast Asia.
Co-hosted by Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (hereinafter referred to as the Family Federation) from 9 a.m. on September 12 (Sunday), 2 million people from 194 countries around the world attended the “the THINK TANK 2022 Hope Summit” online.
In a special speech by the founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon said, “I listened to the keynote speech of the top seven leaders who attended ‘the THINK TANK 2022’ with a meaningful gratitude,” stressing, “We should know that heaven is with us in the deep meaning of wishing for world peace and new unified Korea.”
“After announcing the creation of the ‘Asia-Pacific Union’ in Nagoya in 2019, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen participated the most and put up the sign of the historic THINK TANK 2022 Asia-Pacific Secretariat,” he said. “Now the Korean Peninsula unification and the culture of the Pacific civilization spread around the world.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the first keynote speaker, said, “My proud achievements in my presidency contributed to the bright future of the two Koreas and made it clear to everyone that the U.S. and allies would not be threatened by nuclear weapons in 2018.” “In 2018, I met with the North Korean leader for the first time as a U.S. president and agreed on the critical goal of ‘complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,’ and in 2019, I met with Chairman Jong-un Kim in the Demilitarized Zone to become the first U.S. president to step on North Korean soil,” he said. “Four years ago, I visited Seoul and enjoyed the honor of speaking in the Korean National Assembly, and in half a century, Korea’s development of war-torn land as an advanced country and a great democratic country as an ally of the United States is a reason and evidence of hope for everyone who strives to achieve a better future and peace. In order to escape the tragic COVID-19 pandemic that has killed countless lives, “Let’s work together to create a brighter and more successful tomorrow by promoting overall cooperation, not conflict, with faith in God and love for the people,” he said.
“The THINK TANK 2022 Hope Advancement Competition” is hosted by Yoon Young-ho, head of the World Headquarters of the Korea Federation of Families, and began with a silent prayer for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, keynote address including Seoul Mayor Se-hoon Oh, Busan Mayor Hyung-joon Park, Gwangju Mayor Yong-seop Lee, Chungcheongnam-do Governor Seung-jo Yang, Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Si-jong Lee, Jeollabuk-do Governor Cheol-woo Lee, Gyeonggi-do Chairman Hyun-guk Jang, Gangwon-do Council Chairman Do-young Kwak and peace performances continued.
A peace prayer ceremony by the religious leaders including Protestant, Catholic, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Cheondogyo, believers, and family union leaders in Korea, the United States, and Japan, celebrities’ keynote speech including former U.S. president Donald Trump, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, former EU commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso, former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo, former Indian prime minister Deve Goda, former Indian president Natasaa Michic, Serbia , congratulatory messages, A peace performance by Little Angels, a special speech by the founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and peace performances performed by Korean traditional musician Nam Sang Il continued.
On this day, Gyeonggi Provincial Council Chairman Hyeon-guk Jang said, “We have a task of peace on the Korean Peninsula, and for peace on the Korean Peninsula, cooperation and solidarity are necessary so that we can act as a central force for peaceful development in the international community.” Also “I think that efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula will open the door to peace on the Korean Peninsula in Gyeonggi-do Province, where DMZ is held, and congratulations on the hosting of the THINK TANK 2022 Hope Advancement Competition to strengthen cooperation and solidarity for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Adding, Gangwon-do is a heartbreaking area where the scars of the war still remain as a battleground for the Korean War and an area that desperately wants peace more than anyone else, following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and we hope that a big step beyond the Korean Peninsula will begin in Gangwon-do.”
Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, the second keynote speaker, said, “As can be seen in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we highly appreciate the emphasis on the value of families in the UPF peace vision because families have universal values as a natural group unit.” And He is confident that the THINK TANK 2022 Hope Advancement Competition will give great strength because it requires leadership by people with tremendous passion to unite countries such as Japan, the United States, Taiwan, and Korea, which share freedom and democratic values, maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” he stressed.
Jose Manuel Barroso, former chairman of the EU commission, said, “The European Union is steadily supporting the peace-building process on the Korean Peninsula, and the 7th Hope Advancement Competition is a positive sign of hope.”
In addition, former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo said, “I hope that Korea will become an example of hope to overcome all difficulties and inform the world of the lesson that ‘peace and prosperity will surely come true if humanity dreams together’.”
Former Indian prime minister Debe Goda said, “We express active support for The THINK TANK 2022, which consists of a group of professional leaders in various fields such as the government, business, academia, media, religion, and civil society.”
Launching ceremony of the Korean Peninsula Peace SUMMIT Organizing Committee, which was held during the THINK TANK 2022 event, were the launch of the Asia-Pacific Secretariat, MOU signing and congratulatory speech by Cambodia’s Vice Chairman Khuon Sudary, keynote speech by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, The Asia-Pacific Secretariat’s signboard ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s keynote speech, and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s medal as co-chairman of the organizing committee,, the resolution was sealed and given a badge, the participation of the Peace SUMMIT Organizing Committee on the Korean Peninsula, the Peace Road 2021 World Race Completion Ceremony, and chorus ,”our wishes are the unified Korea”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a keynote speech, “The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s control of the capital Kabul reminds us of the gloomy memories of the armed Khmer Rouge’s occupation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1975.”
Through Afghanistan lessons, peace can only be achieved by stakeholders in disputed countries and the ‘national sense of ownership’ is central, he said. “We are proud to play the role of the Cambodian-based Asia Vision Research Institute(AVI), and we hope to promote crisis resolution and peace-building activities through in-depth research.”
The chairman of “The THINK TANK 2022” is headed by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The THINK TANK 2022 Forum will also be held 10 times from September 18th. The first session will be held in a non-face-to-face three-way broadcast under the theme of “Nuclearization of North Korea and Unification of the Korean Peninsula on the background of world peace,” and world-class domestic and foreign experts will give keynote speeches, topic discussions and questions.
The THINK TANK 2022 Forum is held in the fields of diplomacy, politics, defense security, food security, economy, vaccine security, culture/sports, academic, media, and religion.
The major agenda presented at THINK TANK 2022 will spread to five regions: Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions (November 7), Yeongnam regions (October 17), Chungcheong regions (November 14), Honam and Jeju regions (November 21), and Seoul and Incheon regions (November 28).
reported by Yunjeong Heo
