Prince William attends White House, World Bank meetings during U.S. visit

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Prince William arrived in Washington, D.C. Monday for meetings at the White House and to speak at the World Bank about illegal wildlife trafficking.

The Duke of Cambridge met with U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House Monday morning. According to Clarence House, Prince William "talked to the president, after warm greetings, about the international trade in illegal wildlife among other topics."

After leaving the White House, Prince William made his way to the World Bank, where he delivered a speech marking United Nations Anti-Corruption Day, observed each year on Dec. 9, at the third Biennial Meeting of the International Corruption Hunters Alliance.

"At its heart, all corruption is an abuse of power; the pursuit of money or influence at the expense of society as a whole," Prince William told the 300 corruption experts gathered at the World Bank on Monday, adding that "In my view, one of the most insidious forms of corruption and criminality in the world today is the illegal wildlife trade."

Prince William is the president of United for Wildlife, a charity he created with Prince Harry to bring seven of the leading wildlife organizations under one banner to promote conservation.

"Criminal gangs turn vast profits from the illegal killing or capture of wildlife; armed groups and terrorists swap poached ivory for guns; and middle-men oil the wheels of the trade in return for reward.

Together they loot our planet, to feed mankind's ignorant craving for exotic pets, trinkets, cures and ornaments derived from the world's vanishing and irreplaceable species."

The heir to Britain's throne credited his father, Prince Charles, and grandfather, Prince Philip, with inspiring his advocacy. "From them, I learned that our relation to nature and wildlife goes to the heart of our identity as human beings: from our sheer survival, to our appreciation of beauty and our connection to all other living things."

During his speech, Prince William unveiled a new United for Wildlife initiative led by former British Foreign Secretary William Hague. The international task force will be charged with leading an examination of the transport industry's "role in the illegal wildlife trade and identify means by which the sector can break the chain between suppliers and consumers" and urge companies to institute a "zero tolerance" policy toward the illegal wildlife trade.

Prince William was also expected to visit a local child development center during his day-trip to Washington before returning to New York Monday evening to attend an NBA game with wife Catherine to celebrate the association's collaboration with United for Wildlife.