UN chief Ban Ki-moon to visit Nepal in Oct-end

Kathmandu, Oct 18: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Nepal at the end of this month.

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had formally extended an invitation to Ban Ki-moon when he met the latter on the sidelines of just concluded UN General Assembly. According to the UN News Center, Ban Ki-moon's tour itinerary includes stops in the Philippines, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. During his Nepal visit, Ban Ki-moon will meet President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, other officials and members of the Constituent Assembly.

Besides, he is also scheduled to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Later, he will proceed to the Philippines. Besides, receiving a honourary doctorate from the University of the Philippines, he is expected to address the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila.

In India, the Secretary General will meet President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, including other senior officials.

Ban Ki-moon is also scheduled to give a lecture at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and meet Indian business leaders on climate change.

Before leaving for New York, Ban Ki-moon will also visit Bangladesh to meet President Iajuddin Ahmed and other top officials. He is also scheduled to visit micro-finance, disaster reduction and climate adaptation sites.

United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Chief, Ian Martin on Thursday informed that Ban Ki-Moon would visit Nepal during his visit to the Asian region due to start from October 29.

United Nations mission, the special political mission to support the peace process in Nepal, was established on January 23 2007.

ANI