Elders Statement
Media Advisory: The Elders to visit Beijing for top-level discussions with Chinese leadership

The Elders will visit China from 1-3 April to meet with key political leaders and discuss global challenges from climate change and nuclear disarmament to regional security and extremism.
The delegation will be led by Mary Robinson, Chair and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair and former UN Secretary-General; Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Minister of Algeria and UN diplomat; Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile; and Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico.
The Elders hope to use the occasion to discuss a range of topics, including: China’s role in promoting responsible multilateralism; human rights and the challenges of combating extremism; and climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and international security.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact Luke Upchurch, Director of Communications at The Elders (+44 7795 693 903) or email: [email protected]
FEATURED ELDERS

Ban Ki-moon
Former UN Secretary-General and former South Korean Foreign Minister; championed the world’s vulnerable by putting Sustainable Development, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.

Lakhdar Brahimi
Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.

Ricardo Lagos
Former President of Chile; tenacious fighter for democracy and human rights; implemented health reform and reduced economic inequality while diversifying Chile’s external trade in the era of globalisation.

Mary Robinson
First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Chair of The Elders; a passionate advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building, human dignity and climate justice.

Ernesto Zedillo
Former President of Mexico who led profound democratic and social reforms; a renowned economist; and an advocate of multilateralism, inclusive globalisation, nuclear nonproliferation, drug policy reform and universal healthcare.