Ban Says UN Remains Key to Solving Global Problems (2/2)

On a more positive note, the U.N. chief says, nearly three-quarters of Americans believed the United Nations should play a bigger role in solving the world's problems. He says he is committed to reforming the organization, increasing its efficiency and effectiveness and making its operations more transparent.

Ban notes that the United Nations was created in San Francisco in 1945, and says the city also gave him his first glimpse of America. As an 18-year-old student, he spent eight-days in suburban" class="hjdict" word="suburban" target=_blank>suburban San Francisco, and he paid a visit Thursday to the woman who hosted him, 90-year-old Libba Patterson.

She described him as a focused and serious teenager. Today, Ban is a soft-spoken and careful diplomat, who defends his low-key manner, saying he is a man who gets things done.

"I may not offer soaringrhetoric" class="hjdict" word="rhetoric" target=_blank>rhetoric, but I do promise results."

Friday, the secretary-general will meet with a man with a more forceful style but a similar focus on environmental issues, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The two will discuss global warming and the aggressive measures California has taken to address it. Then they will visit a company that has developed technology to curbgreenhouse gas emissions.