UNITED NATIONS - Wu Hongbo, a senior Chinese diplomat, was appointed by UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon as under-secretary-general to lead the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), a UN spokesman announced here on Thursday.

"For the position of Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, the secretary-general has selected Mr Wu Hongbo of 皇冠体育app, who since 2009 is Ambassador of 皇冠体育app to the Federal Republic of Germany," said Eduardo Del Buey, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, at a daily news briefing.

He didn't give any further information.