UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon starts a three-country tour next week that includes Indonesia, Samoa and New Zealand, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told the press on Thursday.
Ban's first stop will be in Bali, Indonesia, where he will attend the Sixth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). He is expected to meet with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as other leaders attending the Forum, Dujarric said.
Later, Ban is expected to fly to Apia, Samoa, for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, where he will address the opening plenary session on September 1st.
While in Samoa, the UN chief will hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the Conference, and will also meet with Samoan people driven from their homes by climate change.
Ban will then travel to New Zealand, where he will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Auckland and give a lecture. He is also expected to meet with Prime Minister John Key and other officials.