On September 23, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters in New York.

Maintaining world peace and stability, safeguarding international economic and financial stability, and fulfilling the MDGs are three major issues the world is facing today, Wen said. "Poverty is a major factor for regional instability," Wen said, adding the newly-occurred turbulences in the international economic and financial situation, sharp increases in oil prices and food supply shortage have made things more difficult for the countries concerned. Wen said he hopes the high-level U.N. meeting for the MDGs will arouse positive responses from around the world and will contribute to boosting fulfillment of the MDGs.

Wen reaffirmed that the Chinese government will continue to support the work of the U.N. chief, to abide by the purposes and the principles of the U.N. Charter and to support the UN to play a greater role.

Expressing his gratitude to support that China has offered to him and the U.N., Ban spoke highly of the efforts that China has made in the work of disaster relief following the devastating earthquake hitting southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, and in successfully hosting the Beijing Olympics. Wen's personal presence at the high-level U.N. meeting for the MDGs will be of special significance to the U.N. and other member states, the U.N. Secretary General said, adding he is expecting Wen and leaders of other countries to share China's experience in realizing economic and social development and in fulfilling the MDGs at the meeting.

On the same day, Wen met with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Wen said as a U.S. economic, financial and cultural center, New York has always been in the forefront in the nongovernmental exchanges between the two countries. Wen said he wishes the New York City will fully tap its own advantages, increase exchange and cooperation with China and continue to play an active role in promoting mutual understanding between the Chinese and American peoples and the development of China-U.S. relations.

Bloomberg said the New York City would like to conduct friendly exchanges and cooperation with China and especially to have more contacts with big Chinese cities.

The Chinese premier also met with representatives from the staff of Chinese missions overseas, overseas Chinese, Chinese students studying abroad and Chinese-funded institutions.