Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Major General Chao Liu of China

 

to Head United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Major General Chao Liu of China as the Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Major General Liu succeeds Rear Admiral Mario Sánchez Debernardi of Peru, who completed his assignment on 31 December 2010.  The Secretary-General is grateful for Rear Admiral Debernardi’s dedicated and effective service in UNFICYP over the past two and a half years.

Major General Chao Liu brings with him over 25 years of military experience at the national and international level.  He has served as the Military, Air and Naval Attaché at the Embassy of China in India since 2008.  Prior to this position, he had served as the Deputy Commander of a mechanized infantry division in Shen Yang Military Region since 2006.  He held various positions in the Ministry of National Defence, including as the Section Chief in charge of planning and coordination, Staff Officer, as well as a Regimental Commander in Shen Yang Military Region.  During 1993-1994, he served in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara as a military observer.

Major General Chao Liu has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Shijiazhuang Military Command Academy and a Master of Arts degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Born in Liaoning, China, on 6 March 1959, Major General Liu is married and has one child. 

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