THE secretary-general, who is one of the few top world figures the Myanmar supremo is willing to meet with, also presented Than Shwe with a number of proposals to help the development of democracy.
He said those proposals included the release of the more than 2,000 political prisoners ahead of next year's election, opening of real dialogue between the government and opposition, and creating conditions conducive to free and fair elections.
Mr Than Shwe promised the election would not be rigged.
'I was assured that Myanmar's authorities will make sure that this election will be held in a fair and free and transparent manner,' Mr Ban told reporters.
A UN official said they urged the junta to accept international monitors.
Mr Ban himself described his current second visit to Myanmar as a 'very tough mission' and made clear he was not expecting radical changes overnight in a country that has been ruled by a military junta for 47 years.
He had expressed concern his visit could be used by the ruling generals for propaganda purposes but he decided to go anyway, hoping his knack for quiet diplomacy would persuade the generals to compromise, as they did last year when Mr Ban convinced them to lift humanitarian aid restrictions after Cyclone Nargis.
Analysts say Mr Ban may have been given some indication by the generals, or by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari after his trip last week, that his visit might bring some kind of positive result.
The secretary-general is also expected to give a speech in Yangon on Saturday afternoon, in which he will outline his vision for a democratic Myanmar.
UN officials said they expected some 500 people would attend the speech - among them employees of local and international non-government organisations, diplomats, opposition politicians and government officials. -- REUTERS