Kathmandu, Nepal – Dr. Charles Yang, UPF’s international chairman, visited Nepal on February 13-14, 2025, to meet with high-level officials including Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Hon. Dev Raj Ghimire, speaker of the Nepalese Parliament.
Prime Minister Oli welcomed Dr. Yang and a UPF delegation, including Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, member of the House of Representatives of Nepal, in his office on February 13. Dr. Yang invited the prime minister to the World Summit 2025, and also urged him to contribute to efforts aimed at reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Prime Minister Oli extended heartfelt greetings to Mother Moon, recalling his fond memories of meeting her during the Asia Pacific Summit in Nepal in 2018.
He also expressed his hopes for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula and emphasized the importance of preserving peace in the region. The prime minister highlighted that violence and conflict hinder progress, and reaffirmed his commitment to fostering peace through diplomacy and strong, friendly relations with both North Korea and South Korea.
Hon. Dhakal highlighted the activities of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), which he chairs in the Asia Pacific. UPF-Nepal President Mr. Santosh Kumar Paudel and Mr. Rajesh Bajracharya, the prime minister’s secretary, were also present at the meeting.
In his meeting with Speaker Ghimire, Dr. Yang introduced the concept of the Inter-parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) that will be inaugurated at World Summit 2025, which will take place in Seoul from April 10-14. He emphasized the organization’s potential role in fostering international dialogue and cooperation. The speaker expressed his commendation for the accomplishments of UPF and its ambassadors for peace.
Dr. Yang also had a productive meeting with the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federal Parliament of Nepal, Hon. Raj Kishor Yadav, at his office, concerning diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace.
On February 14, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification - Nepal hosted a HyoJeong Family Gathering at the Peace Embassy in Kathmandu. Over 100 members and esteemed ambassadors for peace attended the event to welcome Dr. Yang.
In his address, Dr. Yang reflected on his first visit to Nepal in 1982 when he was learning about Buddhism, as well as his return during the 2018 Asia Pacific Summit. He said that Nepal holds a special spiritual significance, as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. He also visited a Buddhist temple and prayed for Nepal's prosperity and world peace.
By Kahee G. Dhakal, UPF Asia-Pacific Secretariat February 14, 2025
