UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki Moon will leave for China at the end of the week to discuss the nation's role in combating climate change.

During his trip to Beijing and Shanghai, which begins Saturday, Mr Ban will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

He will also participate in a regional forum in Shanghai, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday.

"A big focus of the trip will be the upcoming climate change summit (scheduled for late September in New York) and the critical role China can play in combating climate change and in climate adaptation," Dujarric said.

Mr Ban will also meet with officials from the China Development Bank and China Investment Corporation.

In addition, he will attend the fourth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia from May 20 to 21, when he will meet with various leaders attending the Shanghai summit.

Dujarric said Ban had not yet specified who he will meet during the talks, to be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani among others.

Ban will also address students at Shanghai University before returning to New York late next week.