Charles Yang, chair of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) International, has praised former Prime Minister Hun Sen for his leadership of Cambodia, highlighting his successes in rebuilding the Kingdom and restoring peace.

Yang paid his compliments during a January 29 meeting with Hun Sen, according to the latter’s social media post.

“Yang highly appreciated [Hun Sen’s] heroic example in leading the country and nation-building and shared his strong belief that [Hun Sen’s] famous win-win policy could contribute to the building of peace and national unity, in both the region and the world. He also expressed his confidence that the policy could provide important input into the pursuit of peace and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula,” added the post.

During the meeting, Hun Sen, who remains president of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and also serves as chair of the Supreme Privy Council to the King, thanked Yang for his organisation’s support and monitoring of the 2023 general election, as well as for its contributions to the development of the Kingdom’s human resources, through scholarship programmes and other training courses.

Hun Sen also took the opportunity to suggest that Lotte Corporation, a South Korea-based multinational conglomerate, increase its investment in Cambodia.

Lotte is the parent company of popular fast-food chain Lotteria, and is currently involved in several high-end construction and engineering projects in Cambodia.

He also called for increased private sector support for the seventh-mandate government’s vocational training plans for 1.5 million young people from poor households.

The post also explained that dialogue between leaders and civil society organisations is essential, as it provides an opportunity to gain understanding of one another and share positive experiences, both factors that directly benefit wider society and all peace-loving people.

The UPF was established in 2005 as a network of international and inter-religious families and institutions, and brings together representatives of all religions, governments, civil society organisations and the private sector, regardless of political affiliation, to work to create a peaceful world.

Its members consider themselves a family that lives and works together in harmony, prosperity, and respect for one another.