The United Nations General Assembly has approved by acclamation Portugal’s former prime minister, Antonio Guterres, as the world body’s ninth secretary general.

Guterres was appointed by the 193-member UN assembly to succeed Ban Ki-moon of South Korea on Thursday. The 67-year-old will take up the position on January 1, 2017, for a five-year term.

“He is a wonderful choice to steer this Organization as we build on the progress of the past decade, while addressing the insecurity and uncertainties of today’s world,” said Ban.

“Guterres is well known to all of us in the hall. But he is perhaps best known where it counts most: on the front lines of armed conflict and humanitarian suffering,” added Ban, referring to his time as head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

Presstv