ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — The world needs a middle path to overcome the rising tide of global extremities driven by political, economic, and cultural dominance. That was the central message of the 9th World Peace Forum (WPF), held at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, from November 9–11, 2025.
The biennial international forum carried the theme “Integrating Wasatiyyat, Chinese, and Western Wisdom to Build a Shared Path for Humanity.” The event was organized by the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilizations (CDCC) in collaboration with the Jakarta Provincial Government and the Cheng Ho Multi Culture Education Trust.
More than 300 delegates from 24 countries — including religious leaders, diplomats, scholars, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates — gathered to seek moral pathways toward peace and balance in an increasingly polarized world.
Din Syamsuddin: The World Needs a Middle Path to End Global Extremities
CDCC Chairman Prof. Dr. M. Din Syamsuddin emphasized that humanity is trapped in extreme polarization across various sectors.
“Politics, economy, and culture have all lost their balance. That is why Wasatiyyat, or the middle path, offers a moral foundation for a more just and humane world order,” he said.
Din explained that Islamic Wasatiyyat, with its values of justice, moderation, and balance, can be harmonized with Ren (benevolence) and He (harmony) from Chinese philosophy, as well as the rationality and rule of law from Western civilization.
“The World Peace Forum is not a formal organization but a global moral movement. It provides a space for peacebuilders to exchange ideas and deliver a shared moral message to humanity,” Din added.
He also announced the upcoming Regional World Peace Forum in Timor-Leste in 2026, following discussions with President José Ramos-Horta.
“The spirit of Islamic Wasatiyyat will continue to bridge East and West. The world does not need a holy war — it needs holy peace,” Din declared.
Common Worldview Declaration: A Shared Vision for Humanity
The 2025 forum culminated in the adoption of the WPF Common Worldview Declaration, a new global moral framework rooted in the wisdom of three great civilizations — Islamic, Chinese, and Western.
The declaration affirms that humanity’s divisions do not originate from religion but from imbalance. Each civilization contributes distinct yet complementary pillars:
Wasatiyyat (Islamic Moderation): Balance, justice, and compassion as the ethical core of global civilization.
Chinese Philosophy: Virtue, truth, and harmony as the moral foundation of coexistence.
Western Civilization: Rationality, freedom, and law as the pillars of governance and technological ethics.
“Let Wasatiyyat be the heart, Chinese wisdom the soul, and Western rationality the instrument,” the declaration states.
The document also introduces the Global Wasatiyyat Peace Index (GWPI) — a new measure of peace based on balance, benevolence, and the rule of law. It further outlines an AI Ethics Framework and an Inter-Civilizational Mediation Platform to ensure that global diplomacy and technology remain grounded in human values.
East’s Harmony Can Heal the World
Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar highlighted the vital role of Wasathiyah Islam and Chinese wisdom in shaping a more peaceful world.
“Islamic Wasathiyah is a religion of justice and balance as emphasized in the Qur’an. These principles align with the harmony deeply rooted in Chinese civilization,” he stated.
The minister underscored that all major world religions originated in the East — including Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity.
“There is no such thing as a holy war. There is only holy peace,” he asserted. “This concept must be passed on to younger generations so that the world grows in love and humanity.”
Christian Perspective: “Spiritual Modesty” as the Convergence of Faiths
In a session titled “Viability of Global Collaboration Based on Wasatiyyat and Tionghua,” the General Secretary of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Rev. Jacklevyn F. Manuputty, shared a Christian reflection on moderation through the idea of spiritual modesty.
“Islam with its Wasatiyyat, Chinese philosophy with its harmony, and Christianity with the love of Christ share the same spirit — rejecting extremism and upholding balance,” he said.
He described ugahari — an Indonesian local philosophy of simplicity and self-restraint — as deeply aligned with interfaith moderation.
“The opposite of simplicity is not wealth, but greed. True moderation teaches us to balance our needs with wisdom and compassion,” he added.
Rev. Manuputty also urged that moderation should move beyond rhetoric into policy — especially in education, politics, and digital technology.
Jakarta Hosts Farewell Dinner for Global Delegates
As a gesture of appreciation, the Jakarta Provincial Government hosted a Farewell Dinner at City Hall to honor international delegates. The event symbolized friendship among nations based on peace, diversity, and Eastern wisdom.
Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew praised Indonesia as “the heart of Asia,” emphasizing that without peace, the world would lose not only prosperity but also its humanity.
“Let us celebrate not just a dinner, but a meeting of hearts. Peace is born not from power, but from virtue and trust,” he said.
Asia as the Moral Center of Global Peace
The World Peace Forum 2025 marks a new chapter in Asia’s leadership in moral diplomacy. By merging Islamic Wasatiyyat, Chinese benevolence, and Western rationality, the forum reaffirmed its global mission:
“Stability through Moderation, Harmony through Benevolence, Progress through Reason.”
With this vision, the WPF stands not merely as a dialogue platform but as a global moral movement to build a peaceful civilization rooted in balance, compassion, and universal humanity. (AT Network)
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