U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Wednesday for South Korean parliamentary support of the international body’s push for climate change, sustainable development and other humanitarian efforts.
“Parliamentary guide is absolutely crucial for me to work as the U.N. secretary-general,” Ban said in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chung Eui-hwa as well as parliamentary vice speakers and floor leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties. “I would say support and cooperation from the parliament of my home country, South Korea, is especially crucial.”
Rival parties would not differ on universal humanitarian values like peace, justice or international development, the South Korean diplomat-turned-U.N. chief said, calling for “bipartisan support” from the party officials.
Within this year, the U.N. is pushing to draw up a sustainable development plan for mankind as well as the first-ever global convention on climate change, Ban said.
“Those two tasks should be completed this year without fail in order to lay the groundwork for the welfare of humankind and sustainable development,” Ban said, adding that “For this reason, guidance from the South Korean National Assembly is very necessary.”
The U.N. chief arrived in Seoul on Monday for a five-day visit. (Yonhap)
