The United Nations Secretary General, Ban ki-moon arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening on a four-day official visit to India. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation. It is expected that Mr. Ban’s visit will provide an opportunity to share India’s perspectives on major regional and global challenges.

Mr. Ban will be visiting Mumbai also. During the Delhi leg of his visit, the Secretary General will be hosted by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. He will also call on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Several multilateral issues of mutual concern are likely to be discussed during the meeting.

The Secretary General is being conferred an honorary doctorate by Jamia Millia Islamia University on Friday. While in Mumbai on Saturday, the Secretary General will meet the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan. He is also scheduled to visit some UN development projects in Mumbai and participate in a Millennium Development Goals related event. AIR correspondent reports that this is his third visit to India after assuming the office of Secretary General in January 2007.

The visit comes in the context of India’s strong commitment to multi-lateralism and its wide-ranging contribution to efforts of the UN, including its specialized programmes and agencies.