UN head to be invited to Pacific Islands Forum

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Friday that he will invite the head of the United Nations to attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland next year.

Key will meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Hanoi on Friday ahead of the fifth East Asia Summit being held in Vietnam's capital.

He said New Zealand's relationship with the UN is very important and there will be a lot to discuss with Mr. Ban, including climate change and New Zealand's bid to join the UN Security Council in 2015, Radio New Zealand reported.

Key said if the forum invitation is accepted, Ban will be the first UN Secretary-General to attend.

He said advancing free trade deals will be one of his main priorities at the East Asia Summit.

Key said Asia wants to see the world open up in terms of trade and because New Zealand is such a free trader it helps to advance the cause.

Source:Xinhua