[The Path of Peace - Ep. 6] Across Asia and Europe: Solidifying Global Partnerships for Peace

In the autumn of 2013, HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee set out on an intense 21-day journey spanning eight nations across two continents. Moving from the Philippines and Thailand to Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania, the 6th World Peace Tour established crucial bridges between religious leaders, former heads of state, and international youth networks.

At 82 years old, Chairman Lee maintained a rigorous schedule, introducing concrete mechanisms for ending global conflict and securing commitments from influential figures worldwide.

Interfaith Reconciliation in the Philippines and Thailand

The 6th World Peace Tour began on September 26, 2013, returning to the Philippines just 100 days after the previous visit.

• Catholic Leadership Support: Chairman Lee met with Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Rosales of Manila, who expressed deep alignment with HWPL’s vision for unity. Furthermore, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Mindanao—a region impacted by decades of conflict—personally requested Chairman Lee to visit Mindanao to help foster peace, setting the stage for future historical developments.

• 100th Birthday Celebration of Thailand's Supreme Patriarch: In Bangkok, Chairman Lee was invited as a VIP guest to the 100th birthday celebration of Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch, where he also met with then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

• World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) Summit: Addressing 300 Buddhist leaders at the WFB headquarters, Chairman Lee called for interfaith unity as a prerequisite for global peace. Following his address, 14 prominent Buddhist leaders from countries including France, Nepal, and Bangladesh gathered for a special summit, committing to support HWPL's peace initiatives.

High-Level Summit Diplomacy Across Europe

From October 3 to 17, the 6th World Peace Tour expanded into Europe, engaging key political and religious leaders across six countries: Finland, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Romania.

Chairman Lee held bilateral discussions with former presidents, prime ministers, cabinet officials, and parliamentarians. During these meetings, he presented a clear proposal to state leaders:

"If leaders love their country and their people, they should lend their support to drafted international laws aiming to cease all wars."

A key milestone of this European leg was the meeting on October 14 with Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania. Recognizing the importance of HWPL's mission, President Constantinescu became a key peace partner, helping introduce HWPL's initiatives to the broader international diplomatic community.

Global Media Engagement

Throughout the 21-day tour, news outlets including Philippine state broadcaster PTV, along with European radio and television stations across Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, conducted extensive interviews. Chairman Lee urged journalists to use media as a tool for peace, encouraging regular coverage of initiatives aimed at global conflict resolution.

By bringing together Catholic, Buddhist, and political leadership across Asia and Europe, the 6th World Peace Tour demonstrated that actionable peace is built through direct engagement and cross-border solidarity.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/3wnmd9bt