Annan to attend conference

Secretary-General Kofi Annan was arriving in Brazil today to attend the UN Conference on Trade and Development which promotes trade to help poor countries.

Annan will speak at Monday’s opening session in Sao Paolo, Brazil’s commercial capital, where delegations from 120 countries are gathering for talks aimed at giving developing nations a stronger voice in the global economy.

Soon after his arrival, he will address a ministerial meeting of the group of 77, representing 132 mainly developing nations.

On Sunday, he will speak at a forum of non-governmental organisations.

Before returning to New York on Wednesday, he is also expected to meet Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and other leaders attending the UNCTAD meeting, UN officials said.