South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, the next U.N. secretary-general, was in Paris on Friday for talks with French leaders. Ban was to have lunch with French President Jacques Chirac, the Elysee Palace said. During the one-day visit, he was also meeting with Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. He was not scheduled to address reporters in France, the Associated Press reported. The trip is part of Ban's tour following his election as successor to Kofi Annan as the U.N. chief. He has visited the United States, China, Russia and France, all of which hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council. Britain is the fifth veto-wielding permanent member. Ban is expected to formally step down as foreign minister in the near future, and he takes office as the U.N. chief next year.
