Ban Ki-moon briefs UNGA on India visit

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasised India's growing role in the 21st century and how the world will benefit from its emergence on the global stage during his trip to the country late last month.

Ban briefed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday on his visit to India and Myanmar.

Ban had met Prime Minister Singh Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and several other senior political leaders during the three day trip.

"My discussions underscored India's growing role and responsibilities in the twenty-first century, and how the world could benefit from an India that takes its place on the global stage as a force for peace and an example of forging unity in enormous diversity," Ban said at an informal meeting of the general assembly.

Ban's visit, his third as UN Chief, included a stop at Mumbai where he met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

He lauded India's investment in the health sector, saying it is making a "big" difference. "The United Nations is working very closely with India on this," he added.

Ban was accompanied by World Health Organisation Director-General Margaret Chan, UN Population Fund Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta who joined him for meetings with leaders of government, business, civil society and the creative community.

"Only through this type of multi-stakeholder partnership can we hope to achieve our development goals," Ban told the General Assembly.