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Next UN head in China for talks Next UN head in China for talks
(about 4 hours later)
UN Secretary General-elect Ban Ki-moon is beginning a visit to China for talks thought to centre on the recent North Korean nuclear test. UN Secretary General-elect Ban Ki-moon has held talks in China that were believed to have centred on the recent North Korean nuclear test.
Mr Ban has pledged to play an active part in resolving the nuclear crisis. Mr Ban, currently South Korea's foreign minister, met President Hu Jintao as well as China's special envoy to North Korea, Tang Jiaxuan.
He has already made plans to appoint a special UN envoy on North Korea when he takes over as UN leader in January. At the start of their meeting, President Hu congratulated Mr Ban on his appointment as head of the UN.
At the moment, though, he remains South Korean foreign minister, and in that capacity he also faces tough challenges from Pyongyang. Mr Ban has pledged to play an active role in ending the North Korea crisis.
The North's nuclear test continues to have repercussions in the South - where three members of the country's national security team have now offered to resign. The details of Mr Ban's talks were not immediately released, although prior to his visit both Chinese and South Korean officials said North Korea would be high on their agenda.
The head of South Korea's intelligence services, Kim Seung-gyu, tendered his resignation on Friday. Earlier this week, the Unification Minister, Lee Jong-seok, and the Defence Minister, Yoon Kwang-ung, also indicated their readiness to step down. Mr Hu praised Mr Ban's appointment, pointing out that it was "the first time in 35 years that an Asian has been elected to the post."
In the wake of the nuclear test, South Koreans have voiced their anger at President Roh Moo-hyun's "sunshine policy" of engagement with the North. "I believe... you will be able to play a greater role in the maintenance of world peace and common development," he told the South Korean foreign minister.
Critics have also accused the government of not having enough advance knowledge about the test before it took place. Major challenge
Influential nation Mr Ban thanked China - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - for its support of his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as secretary general, which he formally takes on in January.
"I intend to seek an active role for the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue," Mr Ban said before leaving for Beijing. "I will make my best efforts on the issue of reform of the UN and other issues concerning the UN," he said.
He is set to meet President Hu Jintao, as well as China's envoy to Pyongyang, Tang Jiaxuan, and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. Mr Ban also met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and reportedly praised ties between China and South Korea.
He is expected to thank China - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - for its support of his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as head of the UN. He was also due to meet State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, who was the first foreign diplomat to meet the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il following the country's nuclear test on 9 October.
But there is little doubt that other issues - primarily the North Korean nuclear crisis - will be on the agenda for discussion. Earlier in the week, Mr Ban pledged his determination to resolve the situation on the Korean peninsula - and revealed plans to appoint a special UN envoy on North Korea.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Joanchao told reporters ahead of the visit that the Beijing government wanted to "strengthen the co-operation with [South Korea] to promote the resumption of the six-party talks [and] relax the current tensions". The BBC's Dan Griffiths in Beijing says Mr Ban knows that he needs the co-operation of countries like China in the search for a solution.
He said Beijing hoped Mr Ban's visit could help "achieve the objective of the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and preserve peace and stability in north-east Asia".
The BBC's Dan Griffiths in Beijing says Mr Ban knows that he needs the co-operation of countries like China in the search for a solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula.
Beijing is North Korea's closest ally and a key supplier of aid and trade to the secretive regime in Pyongyang.Beijing is North Korea's closest ally and a key supplier of aid and trade to the secretive regime in Pyongyang.
So far, though, even China has had little success in persuading North Korea back to the negotiating table.So far, though, even China has had little success in persuading North Korea back to the negotiating table.
North Korea is already shaping up to be on of the major challenges for Mr Ban during his time at the United Nations, our correspondent says. North Korea is already shaping up to be one of the major challenges for Mr Ban during his time at the United Nations, our correspondent says.