UN Secretary General Visits the University

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has chosen to visit the University of Birmingham to meet key figures including business leaders, leading academics and politicians from Birmingham and the West Midlands. Speaking at a specially organised reception at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Mr Ban stressed the need for global co-operation in tackling major issues. He also praised the city's work in developing a green economy through the 'Sustainable Birmingham Initiative'. This is an area to which the University is also committed. The development of sustainable energy, sustainable housing and cleaner fuel are all major research strengths at Birmingham. Mr Ban succeeded Kofi Annan as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 after a long career as a diplomat. In his work as Secretary General he has offered international leadership across a wide range of issues, including tackling climate change, human rights, regional security, and peacekeeping in the Sudanese region of Darfur.