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2nd LD Writethru: Fijian diplomat elected UN General Assembly president

Xinhua, June 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Fijian diplomat Peter Thomson was elected on Monday as president of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (GA).

Thomson, who has served as Fiji's permanent representative to the UN since 2010, gathered 94 votes from the 193-member GA, beating his competitor, Andreas Mavroyiannis of Cyprus who received 90 votes.

Thomson will replace the current president, Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, when the next assembly session convenes in September this year.

As a president-elect from pacific island states, Thomas said after the election that he will help to promote addressing the issue of climate change as well as the implementation of sustainable development agenda.

During his posting as Fiji's permanent representative, Thomson was once chairman of the Group of 77 and China. In addition, he was a vice president of the GA from 2010 to 2011.

Thomson has also worked as an investment and management consultant on pacific island affairs for various government agencies and investment corporations.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Thomson on the election, saying his years of experience working for his government as well the private sector would bring a broad perspective to his new post. Endit