United Nations, June 11 (IANS): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Tuesday met visiting Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and they discussed situations in Syria, Ukraine, as well as Fiji.
The secretary-general thanked Australia for its consistent support for the world body and they discussed a number of issues around UN peacekeeping specifically, Xinhua quoted Ban's spokesperson as telling reporters here at the end of the meeting.
The secretary-general commended Australia for its strong leadership of the Group of 20 major economies of the world. Both Ban and Abbott agreed on the need to do more on poverty eradication, the spokesman said.
During the meeting, the UN chief also emphasised the vital importance of September's Climate Summit and sought Australia's full and constructive participation in that crucial gathering to be convened in September at UN Headquarters in New York, the official said.
Australia is one of the 10 non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.