In the world of international diplomacy there are few more recognisable figures than Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the UN.

In a long and sometimes controversial career at the United Nations he played a part in some of the most significant issues in recent history.

Now he spends his time as a mediator in global problems and as an advocate for issues close to his heart, like global poverty, the environment and food security, through the activities of the Kofi Annan Foundation and its partners.

Recently, he came to Singapore to lecture at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and Teymoor Nabili met him to talk about China-African relations, African land sales, eradication of poverty and the Millenium Development Goals.

The former secretary-general of the UN also speaks about the invasion of Iraq, the Middle East peace process, the Goldstone report, his role as a mediator, and the future of Kenya.  

Talk to Jazeera: Kofi Annan aired from Wednesday, March 10, 2010.