Annan to Begin 14-Day Trip to Asia this Weekend
New York, Nov 30 2005 2:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General will start a 14-trip to Asia this weekend with official visits to China, the Republic
of Korea, Japan and Vietnam that will deal with issues ranging from bird flu to UN reform, a UN spokesman said today.
In Beijing, his first stop, the Secretary-General is expected to meet with President Hu Jintao and other senior
officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the Vice Prime Minister in charge of Avian
Influenza.
He also plans to have a question and answer session with students at Beijing University.
From Beijing, he will travel to Seoul, Republic of Korea, where he has meetings planned with President Roh Moo-hyun as
well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The next stop is Tokyo where, in addition to meetings with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the country's Foreign
Minister, he will meet with a parliamentary group on UN reform. He also has an audience scheduled with Emperor Akihito.
Mr. Annan then goes to Hong Kong, where he will address the opening of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial
conference.
His last stop is Vietnam, his first visit to that country as Secretary-General. Among his meetings with Vietnamese
leaders is a consultation with the Chair of the National Steering committee on Avian Influenza.
ENDS