Our differences demand dialogue, not division

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.

- JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

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.