It was in the picturesque city of Sankt Augustin in 1998 when we first proposed the concept of an “Asian Dialogue,” a platform for the mainstream political parties of our continent to engage in meaningful discussions on peace, security, and economic development.

Two years later, in 2000, we had the honor of launching the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Manila. Today, ICAPP counts some 350 political parties from 52 Asian countries among its members. Its headquarters, once in Manila and now in Seoul, symbolizes our continuing hope of contributing to peace on the Korean Peninsula — a goal that, sadly, remains elusive. Over the years, ICAPP has also forged strong ties with political parties across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe, and explored possible avenues of cooperation with the Democratic and Republican parties of the United States.

In 2017, also in Manila, we helped launch the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), a global organization devoted to promoting peace and reconciliation.

Through ICAPP and IAPP, we remain committed to the causes of peace, dialogue, and cooperation not only in our region, but across the world. We have sought to lend our voice and modest influence to the urgent challenges confronting the global community: poverty, terrorism and violent extremism, climate change, environmental destruction, and more.

In 2006, we likewise led the transformation of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) into the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), envisioned as a precursor to an eventual Asian Parliament, much like the European or African Parliaments. The APA now brings together 40 national legislatures.

We recall these milestones not to claim personal credit, but to underscore a fundamental truth: dialogue and cooperation are indispensable, especially in these turbulent times.

Today, humanity and the planet face unprecedented threats. Food shortages are spreading. Global supply chains are disrupted. Humanitarian disasters are multiplying — the result of prolonged wars, violent conflicts, and natural calamities.

Battles continue to rage across the globe. Russia presses on with its war in Ukraine, while Southeast Asia witnessed tensions recently with a flare-up between Cambodia and Thailand along their shared border. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s civil war remains deeply entrenched. The West Philippine Sea also remains a delicate flashpoint. Across the Middle East, volatility persists, with ongoing hostilities in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, and a notably intense 12-day exchange between Israel and Iran recently.

These upheavals remind us that amid deepening polarization, the global community must redouble efforts to build avenues for dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity.

For indeed, despite our differences, there is far more that unites us than divides us. Our differences should not be barriers that separate us — rather, they should compel us to engage in dialogue.

We must be united by our shared humanity, by our common desire to overcome the greatest challenges of our time, and by goals that transcend borders and serve the collective good of all peoples.