UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday he plans to hold his first meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump.

Ban said in an interview with the Associated Press during a visit to Morocco that he would meet with Trump to discuss "all the matters of our common concern."

Ban's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, also told AFP that the two "agreed to meet," but no date has been fixed.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Yonhap)Since Trump's election, Ban has expressed hope that the US will continue to play a leading role in tackling climate change and other global challenges.

During the interview with AP, Ban said Trump is showing signs of pulling back from his tough statements.

"Slowly he is now showing some signs of changes from what he had been saying," Ban was quoted as saying. "I hope he will be engaging closely with world leaders and he will be closely working together with the United Nations." (Yonhap)