United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit China and Mongolia this week for talks on climate change and other global issues, a UN spokeswoman said Monday, according to dpa. Ban will be in Beijing on Friday to meet with President Hu Jin-tao and other high-ranking government officials, and will visit the ancient city of Xian on Saturday, said Marie Okabe. During his stay in China, Ban will participate in climate change events, including one on energy efficient technology, Okabe said. In Mongolia on Sunday, Ban will address the challenges of climate and adaptation, with an emphasis on the special needs of land-locked nations. He will also meet with government leaders. Ban is scheduled to spend time with traditional Mongolian herder communities to learn about the impact of climate change on their lives. Ban has made climate change a priority for UN programmes this year. Government leaders are to meet in Copenhagen from December 7-18 to try and agree on a new Kyoto Protocol to regulate carbon emissions that cause global warming. The current protocol will expire in 2012.
