Secretary-General Appoints Liu Zhenmin of China Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Liu Zhenmin of China as the next Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.  He will succeed Wu Hongbo of China to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization, and for successfully guiding the preparations for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, third International Conference on Financing for Development and the United Nations Ocean Conference.

Mr. Liu brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in the diplomatic service, with a strong focus on the promotion of bilateral, regional and global issues.  He was deeply involved for 10 years in climate change negotiations including the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.  He also widely participated in the international activities on the protection of our planet including Antarctica and the oceans.  Over the last several years, in various capacities, he has been consistently highlighting and advocating for sustainable development issues.

Currently, Mr. Liu is Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of China.  Prior to this position, he was Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland (2011-2013).

Mr. Liu started his career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1982.  Since then, he has served the Ministry in various capacities, including as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs (2009-2011); Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (2006-2009); Director-General, Department of Treaty and Law (2003-2006); and Deputy Director-General, Department of Treaty and Law (1998-2003).  He also served in the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland (1992-1995) and in the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (1984-1988).

Mr. Liu holds a Master of Laws from the Law School of Peking University.