Ban Ki-moon, UN chief

Author: Zheng Jiajie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: In the history of the Secretary-General elections of the United Nations, it is rare to have a Secretary-General who receives unanimous support from the five permanent members of the Security Council. Ban Ki-moon is such a person. With all his competitors withdrawing, there was only one Secretary-General candidate left before the formal vote, a situation unprecedented in the history of the United Nations. In terms of background, Ban Ki-moon had over a decade of experience working with the United Nations, making him a seasoned and highly familiar diplomat with United Nations affairs. However, what is more important is that, being of Korean origin, he has long been involved in dealing with the affairs of the Korean Peninsula, mediating relations between Japan and South Korea, and between the United States and South Korea. He has been a witness to many major events, making him more familiar with global security issues. In the future, Ban Ki-moon should be able to play a greater role in the key work of the United Nations. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Ban Ki-moon has always been reserved and low-key, often handling diplomatic affairs without showing his sharpness. However, this does not simply equate to weakness. From the perspective of East Asian history, the political philosophy in this region tends to emphasize peace and steadiness, as these qualities can win trust. Applying this political philosophy on a broad international stage like the United Nations may help avoid many unnecessary conflicts and clashes.