UN chief to visit India

United Nations, April 24 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will depart for India April 25 for an official visit, UN spokesperson Eduardo del Buey said here Monday.

"His first stop will be Delhi, where he will have meetings with the senior political leadership to discuss current regional and international issues and matters of global concern," he said at a daily news briefing.

According to del Buey, Ban will also receive an honorary degree from Jamia Islamia University, reported Xinhua.

"He will then visit Mumbai, where he will meet with Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra state, and meet with a small group of key business leaders committed to utilizing their expertise to promote the health of women and children," said del Buey.

"He will also visit health facilities where he will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the progress being made in communities through his discussions with women, children and health workers."

Del Buey added that Ban will attend an event hosted by members of a group of advocates for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight international development targets due to be met worldwide by 2015. Ban created the MDG Advocacy Group in 2010 to help spur political will and action to meet the goals.