United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon embarks this week on a four-nation visit to the Pacific region that will focus on climate change and international security.

Mr. Ban will travel to Australia on Saturday for talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard on his initiatives on climate change, as well as the U.N.-backed missions in Afghanistan and East Timor. The two are also expected to discuss developments in Libya, the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Mr. Ban will then travel to Auckland, New Zealand, where he will become the first U.N. chief to attend the Pacific Island Forum.

Afterwards, Mr. Ban will travel to the Solomon Islands and Kiribati for meetings with their respective leaders, and will speak to local communities about climate change and ways of reducing disaster risk.

The U.N. chief will return to Australia on September 7 for a two-day visit.