UN chief to take part in aid effectiveness forum in Republic of Korea next week

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart on Monday for Busan, Republic of Korea, where he will participate in a high-level forum on aid effectiveness, as well as pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the Korean War.

Mr. Ban will be among some 2,000 delegates convening in Busan for the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, which will review global progress in improving the impact and value for money of development aid.

Its outcomes will also inform the discussions on international development cooperation at the major UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) to be held next June and beyond.

The Secretary-General will also have a range of bilateral meetings with leaders attending the forum, from both the public and private sectors, according to his spokesperson.

In addition, he will visit the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea, in Busan, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the Korean War, marking the first visit to the cemetery by a UN Secretary-General.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro arrived today in Lebanon, where she will chair the 15th Regional Coordination Mechanism for the Arab States.

These meetings, held in various regions, focus on enhancing collaboration among UN system organizations so that they can be more effective and efficient in delivering results for UN Member States.

The meeting in Beirut will focus on regional preparations leading up to the Rio+20 conference, the summit on sustainable development to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June next year.

Ms. Migiro will also hold bilateral meetings with Lebanese Government officials, as well as with UN staff based in the country, before returning to New York on Sunday.