UN chief begins Mongolia visit

ULAN BATOR, July 26 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived

here Sunday for a three-day visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Mongolian

Prime Minister Sanjaa Bayar.

Upon his arrival, Ban visited the Mongolian army's Tavan Tolgoi training

center for peacekeeping forces, 65 km west of Ulan Bator.

During his visit, the UN chief is expected to meet Mongolian President

Tsakhia Elbegdorj, Prime Minister Sanjaa Bayar and Foreign Minister Sukhbaataryn

Batbold.

Ban will discuss with Mongolian officials poverty reduction, peacekeeping

cooperation and socio-economic development.

This is Ban's first visit to Mongolia.