WASHINGTON (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush is due to have talks here with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 17, the White House announced on Thursday.

"The president looks forward to discussing with Secretary-General Ban the many important issues on which the United Nations is engaged, including human rights, international peace and security, humanitarian and development assistance and UN reform," a White House statement said. The scheduled talks will focus on violence in Sudan's Darfur region, U.S.-United Nations relations, UN reforms and climate change, according to a briefing by UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe. Ban last visited Washington on June 19 for talks with U.S. congressional leaders on the Middle East, Sudan, climate change and UN reforms.