Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Cambodia to support peace efforts in the Korean peninsula during its role as host of the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem).

Ban, currently president of the South Korean Global Green Growth Institute, discussed the situation in the Korean peninsula with Prime Minister Hun Sen during a meeting in Seoul, according to the Minister Delegate Attached to Prime Minister Kao Kim Hourn.

At a press conference, Kim Hourn said: “His Excellency Ban Ki-moon emphasised the need to enhance cooperation between Cambodia and Korea.

“His Excellency also discussed the situation in the Korean Peninsula with Prime Minister Hun Sen and asked him to support peace efforts in the region. As a member of Asean, Cambodia can play an important role in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula.”

In a recent Facebook post, Hun Sen recalled a visit by Ban to Cambodia before he rose to the top of the UN. During that visit, Ban visited the Angkor Kyung Yu Night Market in Siem Reap.

“That was around the same time that Cambodia started sending peacekeepers to the UN, and then the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders began as Ban Ki-moon became the secretary-general of the United Nations.

“Cambodia has continued to send troops around the world on peacekeeping missions under the umbrella of the UN, including women soldiers,” Hun Sen said.

Also on Tuesday, Hun Sen met South Korean President Moon Jae-in. During the meeting, he asked South Korea to consider building a bridge in Cambodia in similar fashion to China and Japan, which both have “friendship bridges” here.

Hun Sen thanked Korea for its financial assistance and development aid. He said Korea’s loans helped strengthen infrastructure in the country, allowing Cambodians to travel faster and more safely between provinces.

The 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) will be held on November 16 and 17 in Phnom Penh.