Secretary-General Appoints Li Junhua of China Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Li Junhua of China as the next Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.  He will succeed Liu Zhenmin of China, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization.

Mr. Li brings to the position perspectives and visions on fostering multilateral economic and social cooperation, with a commitment to engage with all parties to further implement the 2030 Agenda, including dedication to serve Member States.  He has contributed to numerous meetings of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); United Nations General Assembly; and the Security Council, as well as other multilateral meetings including the Group of 20; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM); and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), among others.

He is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Italy and San Marino.  Prior to this, he was Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China from 2013 to 2019.

Mr. Li began his career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1985.  Since then, he has served in various capacities, including as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Myanmar from 2010 to 2012; Deputy Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences from 2008 to 2010; and Minister Counsellor (Political), Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations from 2003 to 2008.

He also serviced as Division Director and Counsellor in charge of United Nations General Assembly and Security Council Affairs from 2001 to 2003; Second and First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations from 1997 to 2001; Third and Second Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences from 1992 to 1997; and Assistant to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok from 1986 to 1992.

Mr. Li has a master’s degree in international public policy from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, United States.  He speaks Chinese and English.