Chair:
Closing remarks:
Performance:
Conclusion of the HLPF
Her Excellency Lachezara Stoeva was elected the seventy-eight President of the Economic and Social Council on 25 July 2022. She is the current Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York. Her Excellency Lachezara Stoeva assumed her duties as Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations on 16 February 2021.
Before her appointment, Ms. Stoeva headed the Department of Economic, Financial and Administrative Affairs of the United Nations, in Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She served as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2016 to 2019, prior to which she was Acting Deputy Permanent Representative and Counsellor, responsible for issues including international security and disarmament. Prior to her posting in New York, Ms. Stoeva headed the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Arms Control and Non-Proliferation from 2013 to 2014, and the Department of International Development Cooperation from 2012 until 2013.
She first joined the Ministry in 2002 and has worked extensively on international security issues with an emphasis on arms control, non-proliferation, and United Nations issues. Ms. Stoeva holds master’s degrees in European politics and government from the London School of Economics and in political science from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mr. Li Junhua of China as the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs effective 25 July 2022.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Li was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Italy and San Marino. He 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), the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, as well as other multilateral meetings including the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), BRICS etc.
As Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li guides UN Secretariat support for the follow-up processes of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. He also oversees the substantive services to many intergovernmental processes, including the annual meetings of the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly, the meetings of the Economic and Social Council, including its Development Cooperation Forum, and the work of the subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC. In addition to intergovernmental processes, Mr. Li oversees DESA’s policy analysis and capacity development work. He also serves as the Convenor of the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs, and advises the United Nations Secretary-General on all development-related issues, including climate change, internet governance, and financing for development.
Mr. Li began his career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1985. Since then, he has served in various capacities, including as Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (2013-2019), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Myanmar (2010-2012), Deputy Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences (2008-2010), Minister Counselor (Political), Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (2003-2008), Division Director and Counselor in charge of UN General Assembly and Security Council Affairs (2001-2003), Second and First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (1997-2001). Third and Second Secretary, the Department of International Organizations and Conferences (1992-1997) and Assistant to the Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of China to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok (1986-1992).
Mr. Li holds a Master’s in International Public Policy, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Li is married.
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