Liu Zhenmin (file photo)

UNITED NATIONS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Liu Zhenmin of the People's Republic of China as the next Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, said Thursday at the daily news briefing that Liu will succeed Wu Hongbo of the People's Republic 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."

"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," Dujarric said, adding that he was deeply involved for 10 years in climate change negotiations, including the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

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

Liu started his career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1982. Since then he has served the Ministry in various capacities.

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