Continuing Asian trip, Annan confers with Chinese Prime Minister

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today conferred with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on a wide spectrum of issues including UN-China cooperation, UN reform, the Millennium Development Goals that seeks to slash a host of socio-economic ills by 2015, and China's contribution in Africa.

At the meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People the two leaders also discussed the Global Compact, an initiative launched by Mr. Annan to advance good corporate citizenship and responsible globalization and to promote human rights and fight corruption.

On the third leg of an Asian trip, the Secretary-General also met with the UN country team and spoke with UN staff at the world organization’s offices in Beijing.

In the afternoon, he conferred with State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan on topics that included Iran and East Asian relations.

Mr. Annan met with President Hu Jintao on his arrival in China on Friday. Over the weekend, he and his wife Nane visited the Yellow Mountains where they met regional officials.

Mr. Annan, who came to Asia from Vienna, where he attended a European Union-Latin American summit, has already visited the Republic of Korea and Japan. From China he goes on to Viet Nam and Thailand.