17 Jul 2012

BAN / CHINA

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (17 July) told followers of the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo that one thing that makes him really angry is talking to leaders who fail to protect human rights. SINA WEIBO

Posted at: July 17, 2012 6:14 pm

Duration: 01:50

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: BAN / CHINA 
TRT: 1.50
SOURCE: SINA WEIBO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 JULY 2012, BEIJING, CHINA

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Ban Ki-moon and Lan Yang
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"I'm deeply concerned and sometimes I cannot sleep when I think of so many people being killed every day, even today and yesterday hundred and two hundred people have been killed. This must stop, at any cost, so that Syrian people can commence immediately political dialogue for political resolution of this issue, reflecting the genuine aspiration and genuine need of people. China can play a very important role. That is one of the reasons I am here. I'll try to discuss this matter with the leadership of China's government, President Hu Jintao, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and many other leaders."
3. Med shot, Lan Yang listening
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"It's very difficult to talk with those human rights perpetrators, violators, particularly when some leaders are not committed to protecting those group of people, vulnerable people. I have been speaking very clearly and very strongly and firmly that you must keep this principle."
5. Med shot, Lan Yang listening
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"China has been taking very important initiatives in helping African people and countries to strengthen their capacities to address many difficult challenges. This is a great example of South-South cooperation."
7. Wide shot, Ban Ki-moon and Lan Yang

STORYLINE:

On arriving in Beijing today for a three-day trip to China, Ban participated in a social media conversation with young people through the Sina Weibo micro-blogging site, moderated by the well-known Chinese TV presenter Lan Yang.

Out of more than 16,000 questions submitted by Weibo users, he took 23 questions on topics ranging from peacekeeping to youth unemployment and sustainable development.

On Syria, the Secretary-General said he was "deeply concerned" about the bloodshed and sometimes could not sleep thinking of the people being killed every day. He said this "must stop, at any cost". China could play a "very important role" and one of the reasons for his trip to the country was to discuss Syria with China's president, foreign minister and other leaders.

Ban will be meeting the Chinese leadership tomorrow.

Asked for an example of something that could make him angry enough to "pound the table", he said it was "very difficult to talk with those human rights perpetrators, violators, particularly when some leaders are not committed to protecting those group of people, vulnerable people", adding that he had been "speaking very clearly and very strongly and firmly that you must keep this principle."

On China-Africa cooperation, Ban commended China for taking "very important initiatives in helping African people and countries to strengthen their capacities" and called this a "great example of South-South cooperation".

On Thursday, the Secretary-General will take part in a major conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and will then travel on to Southeastern Europe.

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