UN chief meets with European leaders on MDGs

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday underlined the need to make progress in reaching the targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015.

The secretary-general made the statement when he was meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission in Toronto on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of 20 (G-20) largest economies in the world, said a readout from the UN Spokesperson's Office here.

"The secretary-general emphasized the importance of making progress on the Millennium Development Goals and was encouraged by the commitment of support for the MDGs, including the role of overseas development aid," the readout said.

Ban has been taking part in the two-day summit to highlight the need for world leaders to step up efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve the eight MDGs for reducing extreme poverty and hunger, improving health and education, empowering women and ensuring environmental sustainability by 2015.

During the meeting, they discussed the fight against climate change as well as Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Gaza, the readout added.

Source: Xinhua