The World Summit 2020 took place on February 3-8, 2020 at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Seoul, Korea, on the theme: “Realizing World Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula through Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values,”. The Summit was convened by UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to honor her husband, Dr. Sun Myung Moon, on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Culminating a series of summit conferences sponsored by UPF throughout the world in the last two years, the World Summit gathered more than 6000 delegates representing 170 countries, including former and current heads of the state, former and current lawmakers, ministers, religious leaders, journalists, businessmen, women and youth leaders, Nobel laureates and scholars.
Despite the worldwide state of emergency created by the Coronavirus crisis, prominent national and international leaders attended the event, including: former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar Vice-President Henry Van Thio, Philippines Vice President Leni Robredo, former EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.
(L to R) Former President of Albania Alf red Moisiu, Advisor to the Vice President of Libya Dr. Fathi Noah, Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, UPF Co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, Vice-President Leni Robredo of the Philippines
The Summit featured the world assemblies of three associations recently launched by UPF: the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP). Moreover, three new associations were inaugurated: the International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP), the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP), and the International Association for Peace and Economic Development (IAED).
These six associations affiliated to the Universal Peace Federation have been formed as instruments of peace, guided by the principles of interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values, each with a unique vocation to contribute to humanity’s well-being.
On February 3, the Opening Plenary featured prominent speakers such as Singapore-based US financier James Rogers, Nobel laureate Mario Molina and former Nigerian president Gookluck Jonathan. During the Welcome Banquet, a special birthday greetings and floral arrangement from North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un was conveyed to the UPF Founder by the Chairman of the DPRK Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, Kim Young Cheol – as well as a personal birthday greetings from US President Donald Trump and his wife.
 H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, President (2010-2015), Nigeria |
 Dr. Mario J. Molina, Nobel Prize Laureate, Mexico |
 Dr. Werner Fasslabend, President, Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy |
On February 4, after an opening message by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the International Summit Council for Peace was launched by Dr Hak Ja Han Moon in the presence of former and current heads of state and government from around the world. Nine former prime ministers from EU nations and five former heads of state and government from the Balkans and the Middle East attended the three ISCP sessions.
On February 5 was held the 2020 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony. First, Dr Moon presented a special Founders’ Centenary Award to Hon. Ban Ki-moon. Then, as founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize, she presented the award to the two laureates: President Macky Sall of Senegal and Palestinian Bishop Munib A. Younan, the Honorary President of “Religions for Peace”. Unable to attend the event due to the coronavirus emergency, President Macky Sall was represented by the Senegalese minister of foreign affairs.
 Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and Sunhak Peace Prize Committee chairman Il-sik Hong awarding the Founders’ Centenary Award to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. |
 President Macky Sall of Senegal giving his acceptance speech via a video presentation. |
 Bishop Munib A. Younan, Arab-Israeli Bishop Emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, giving his acceptance speech. |
11 concurrent sessions were held on February 4 and 5 afternoons, including a special session on the Balkans Peace Initiative. The sessions and breakouts comprised more than 2500 attendees, including more than 300 presenters and respondents. With the support and coordination of more than 500 volunteers, bringing together world leaders from the fields of politics, religion, academia and science, the media and the busines sector, the World Summit 2020 was able to successfully fulfill its objectives.
For more information, please see also the reports on www.upf.org.