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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Next UN head in China for talks | Next UN head in China for talks |
| (6 days later) | |
| 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. | 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, currently South Korea's foreign minister, met President Hu Jintao as well as China's special envoy to North Korea, Tang Jiaxuan. | Mr Ban, currently South Korea's foreign minister, met President Hu Jintao as well as China's special envoy to North Korea, Tang Jiaxuan. |
| At the start of their meeting, President Hu congratulated Mr Ban on his appointment as head of the UN. | At the start of their meeting, President Hu congratulated Mr Ban on his appointment as head of the UN. |
| Mr Ban has pledged to play an active role in ending the North Korea crisis. | Mr Ban has pledged to play an active role in ending the North Korea crisis. |
| 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 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| "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. | "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. |
| Major challenge | Major challenge |
| 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. | 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 will make my best efforts on the issue of reform of the UN and other issues concerning the UN," he said. | "I will make my best efforts on the issue of reform of the UN and other issues concerning the UN," he said. |
| Mr Ban also met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and reportedly praised ties between China and South Korea. | Mr Ban also met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and reportedly praised ties between China and South Korea. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 one 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. |