UN chief says he learnt 'diplomacy' in India

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that he had learnt 'diplomacy' in India, which was his first posting nearly four decades ago.

Speaking at an Indian classical music performance, Ban told the gathering "that's the place where I learnt all that diplomacy." "That's the place where I enjoyed Indian music," he said, adding that it helped him "relax, reflect and recharge."

Ace violinist L Subramaniam played at the function at United Nations headquarters here. India has indicated that it will support Ban's election for a second term.

Speaking before the performance began, Hardeep Singh Puri, India's envoy to the UN, said that the often 'arcane language' of diplomacy wasn't a part of the 'universal language' of music. "This is one language where the nuances don't have to be interpreted," he said.

Before becoming UN Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry. He entered diplomatic service the year he graduated from university, accepting his first post in New Delhi, India.