SINGAPORE, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Singapore for a two-day working visit starting July 2.

    According to a statement by the Singapore Foreign Ministry on Thursday night, Ban Ki-moon met with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and both sides reaffirmed the long-standing ties and strong cooperation between the city state and the United Nations and exchanged views on various challenges facing the international community, including the economic crisis.

    Both Lee and the UN chief also discussed the latter's forthcoming visit to Myanmar.

    Lee stressed the importance of the continued engagement of the international community through the United Nations and reiterated the city state's support for the Good Offices of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari's work on Myanmar.

    Later in the day, the UN chief was also hosted to dinner by Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who emphasized the important role that the United Nations could play to help bring about national reconciliation in Myanmar by engaging all the stakeholders.

    In this regard, the UN chief's visit to Myanmar presents a good opportunity to help move the national reconciliation process forward, the ministry said.

    The UN chief is expected to leave Singapore for Myanmar earlier on Friday.

    This is the UN chief's first visit to Singapore since taking office in 2007.