U.S. President Barack Obama and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are meeting at the White House at this hour for talks on international security issues.
The two leaders were expected to discuss climate change, the global economic crisis and efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, said Friday the two may also discuss U.N. reform, international peacekeeping operations and Sudan. The office of the secretary-general said last week that talks also are expected to include Afghanistan, the Middle East and human rights.
A spokesman for Mr. Ban said the U.N. chief was pleased to have received the invitation and looked forward to meeting with Mr. Obama.
Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Ban was in Haiti with former U.S. President Bill Clinton to refocus international attention on the problems facing the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.