President Hu Jintao appointed a new ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva on Monday.

Li Baodong was appointed as permanent representative and ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland.

Li replaced his predecessor Sha Zukang who became a UN under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs on June 22.

(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2007)