NEW YORK, August 28, 2026 — The Forum for World Education (FWE) hosted a successful Welcome Home Reception at the Penn Club of New York on Friday, August 28, honoring Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and Dr. Sonia Sachs following the completion of the Marco Polo Drive, an extraordinary 15,000-kilometer overland journey across Eurasia dedicated to peace, culture, sustainable development and international friendship.
The 43-day journey began in Rome and concluded in Hong Kong, crossing 11 countries: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China. Along the way, the travelers passed through some of the great historic centers connecting Europe and Asia, including Venice, Istanbul, Baku, Samarkand, Xi’an, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
The New York gathering brought together ambassadors, diplomats, educators, media representatives, civic leaders and friends to celebrate the journey and reflect on its broader message of dialogue and cooperation among civilizations.
Dr. Cheng Davis, President of the Forum for World Education, welcomed Professor and Dr. Sachs home and emphasized that the Marco Polo Drive represented far more than a geographical expedition.
“It was a journey across civilizations. It was a journey across cultures. And most importantly, it was a journey for peace.”
Dr. Davis connected the journey to FWE’s mission of what she described as “Education Diplomacy”, emphasizing the role that students, teachers, universities and educational institutions can play in building lasting relationships across national boundaries.
She told the gathering that the future cannot be built through division, but through human connection:
“If we are willing to travel toward one another, we can understand one another. If we understand one another, we can cooperate. And if we cooperate, we can build peace.”
Dr. Davis also expressed the hope that the Marco Polo Drive would continue through educational cooperation linking schools, universities, teachers, students and young leaders throughout the countries along the route. She called for expanded exchanges in mathematics, science, technology, artificial intelligence, culture and the humanities.
The program featured keynote remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations; Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs; and Dr. Sonia Sachs.
In his remarks, Professor Sachs described the expedition not as an arduous test of endurance, but as a demonstration of how comfortably and safely modern technology can connect Eurasia.
“This was a trip of joy,” Sachs said, noting that the 15,000-kilometer journey also demonstrated the rapidly expanding availability of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure across Eurasia.
Reflecting on the larger purpose of retracing the historic Silk Road routes, Professor Sachs emphasized the importance of peace and connectivity across the Eurasian continent.
“Eurasia should be at peace. Eurasia should be interconnected.”
He described a vision of physical and economic connection through infrastructure, trade, rail, communications and energy, linking this connectivity to the journey’s themes of peace, culture and sustainable development.
Professor Sachs also reflected extensively on the extraordinary historical and cultural encounters experienced along the route. He described the civilizations encountered during the journey as deeply interconnected, shaped over centuries by influences moving “from the east, from the west, from the north, from the south.”
Among the examples he highlighted was a 220-megawatt solar project near Samarkand that combines Chinese technology with financing from European and Asian development institutions. Sachs described such collaboration as an example of what the world needs: “Peace, cooperation, co-investment.”
A special portion of the reception featured representatives of countries along the Marco Polo Drive route. Remarks were delivered by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia; Ambassador David Bakradze, Permanent Representative of Georgia; Ambassador Kairat Umarov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan; and Ambassador Ulugbek Lapasov, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan.
Additional remarks were delivered by Ms. Xin Zhang, Executive Vice President of CGTN America and CCTV United Nations; Ms. Maisie Ho, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York; and Dr. Steven Melnik, Chairman of United World Leaders.
Closing remarks were delivered by Fred Teng, President of the America China Public Affairs Institute, followed by a reception and networking among the assembled guests.
The gathering underscored the enduring relevance of the historic Silk Road in the twenty-first century. For centuries, these routes facilitated not only the exchange of goods, but also the movement of knowledge, technology, culture, ideas and human relationships between civilizations.
The Marco Polo Drive brought that tradition into the modern era, demonstrating how travel, education, sustainable development and people-to-people engagement can contribute to greater mutual understanding.
Dr. Davis closed her welcome by offering a vision for carrying the journey forward:
“Let the road from Rome to Hong Kong become a bridge from one generation to the next.”
The Forum for World Education expressed its appreciation to Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and Dr. Sonia Sachs, the participating ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, speakers, partners and guests who contributed to the success of the event and to the broader mission represented by the Marco Polo Drive.
About the Marco Polo Drive
The Marco Polo Drive is a 15,000-kilometer overland journey inspired by the historic routes linking Europe and Asia. Traveling from Rome to Hong Kong across 11 countries, the journey explored the continuing importance of peace, cultural exchange, sustainable development, technological progress and people-to-people relations in building connections among civilizations.
About the Forum for World Education
The Forum for World Education (FWE) promotes international understanding and cooperation through education. Its concept of Education Diplomacy seeks to connect students, educators, universities, policymakers, business leaders and communities across countries, using education as a bridge for dialogue, friendship and long-term international cooperation.
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