“The two leaders discussed the accomplishments the United States and the United Nations have made together since 2009 to strengthen international action on a wide range of global threats and challenges,” Thursday’s release stated.
It cited those achievements as involving climate-change policy, prevention and ending of armed conflicts, protection of human rights, advancement of sustainable economic development, reducing inequality, and addressing threats posed by Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities.
Ban was at the White House on Thursday to meet with Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, the release noted.
Ban’s term as the chief UN diplomat officially ends December 31. Recently elected Secretary-General Antonio Guterres takes office on January 1 for a five-year term.
