Speaking to AFP on his flight to the summit in Japan, Ban also said he would meet on the sidelines with African leaders in a bid to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

“I hope the US ultimately should take all this leadership role. This is what the whole international community expects of the United States,” Ban said in an interview with AFP on his plane to a Group of Eight summit in Japan.

The United States is the only major industrial nation to shun the Kyoto Protocol as it pushes for more commitment from developing nations such as China and India.

“It is not the issue of who should come first and who should come later. But it would be desirable that industrialised countries should lead this by example,” Ban said.

The UN chief said he spoke about climate change with Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao during a visit last week to Beijing.

“I know that the Chinese and Indians, they are also committed to this process. I was encouraged by what Chinese leaders have told me,” Ban said.

The G8 - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - are set to meet Wednesday in an extended session with leaders of emerging economies including Hu and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.