27 August 2012
Follow-up of the Rio+20 sustainable development summit, the post-2015 UN development agenda, financing for development, assistance to LDCs, and collaboration on the annual UN World Economic Situation and Prospects report, are some for the areas identified for continued cooperation in an exchange of letters between the new head of the New York-based UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Mr. Wu Hongbo, and UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi.
Mr. Wu Hongbo assumed the office of Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs on 1 August 2012, following his appointment to this position by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 31 May.
Prior to joining the United Nations as head of DESA, Mr. Wu was Ambassador of China to Germany. Mr. Wu brings over 30 years of experience in international relations.

Mr. Wu Hongbo was sworn in to his new role by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon