Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SHA ZUKANG OF CHINA UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Sha Zukang of China as Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.  Mr. Sha currently serves as the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

In addition to his well-established background in disarmament issues, Mr. Sha is also well-versed in the fields of economic and social development.  Over his 37 years of diplomatic career, his portfolios cover a wide range of fields, including security, economy, social affairs, human rights and humanitarian affairs.  In recent years, he served respectively as the Chairperson of the Government Group of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, President of the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee and the Committee of the Whole of UNCTAD; Coordinator of the Like-Minded-Group of the Human Rights Council.  He was also elected or appointed as President, Vice-President, Chairman, coordinator and expert in many international conferences in the field of trade, intellectual property, social affairs and telecommunications.

He previously served as Director-General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997-2001) and earlier as Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland (1995-1997).  He was Counsellor and Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1992-1995); First Secretary and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, New York (1988-1992); Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director and First Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1985-1988).

Earlier in his career, he served as Attaché and Third Secretary, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of India (1980-1985) and as staff member, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (1974-1980) and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1971-1974).

Mr. Sha was born in September 1947.  He is a native of Jiangsu Province and is a university graduate.  He is married with one son.

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