Chicago (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday met with Asif Ali Zardari, president of Pakistan, and " their discussions focused on Afghanistan," Ban`s spokesman told reporters here.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing NATO summit here, "the secretary-general emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and Pakistan`s role in that," said a readout to the press here from the spokesman.

"He encouraged the president to help as much as possible with Afghanistan`s reconciliation process," said the readout.

Afghanistan is one of the three major issues on the agenda of the two-day NATO summit, which is expected to end late on Monday.

They also discussed next month`s Rio+20 sustainable development conference, which is to be held in Brazil, said the readout.

Meanwhile, "the secretary-general thanked the president for Pakistan`s significant contribution to peacekeeping," the readout added.

(C003)

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