INQUIRER Global Nation

MANILA, Philippines -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrived in Malacañang early Wednesday evening for expanded bilateral talks with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo, who was in an off-white terno, received Ban at the Palace grounds, where he was given full military honors.

Cabinet and military and police officials, and Philippine delegates to UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Haiti were also on hand to welcome Ban.

Arroyo is set to host a state dinner in the UN chief's honor later Wednesday evening.

Ban is in the country for the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), which Manila is hosting for the first time.