A group of international leaders in peace building and education from two dozen countries and four continents, as well as high-level Korean diplomats, convened here on Monday to discuss ways to enhance international understanding and create a culture of peace in the region.

While North Korea appears to be restarting its program to process weapons-grade plutonium, and China, South Korea and Japan quarrel endlessly over history and territory, United Nations and foreign affairs officials met to discuss ways to foster a culture of peace and international understanding in the Asia Pacific.

Organized by the Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding, a UNESCO grouping, the two-day conference entitled the “Technical Consultation on Global Citizenship Education” opened at APCEIU’s headquarters in Seoul.

The officials and diplomats came together “to expand on the work that the United Nations does through UNESCO in peace-building and international understanding in Asia and the Pacific through its various education programs,” according to organizers at APCEIU.

“Peace is ultimately only truly achieved through understanding and dialogue among people,” said Chung Utak, the director of the APCEIU in opening remarks at the two-day conference.

The APCEIU has been working since its establishment in 2000 to promote international understanding and peace through its many education-related programs in South Korea and around the Asia Pacific region. The organization gets support from the government, UNESCO and UNESCO member states.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)