New York - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Mr. Haoliang Xu as Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

With almost three decades of experience at UNDP, Mr. Xu has an unyielding commitment to human development and rich experience in international development cooperation across multiple regions. Since joining UNDP in 1994, he has fulfilled various roles within the organization, working in field and headquarters assignments in Asia-Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, including assignments in Iran, Timor-Leste, Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Mr. Xu, of China, currently serves as UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), a role he has carried out with distinction since July 2019. Between 2013 and 2019, Haoliang was UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.

Following the announcement, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said, “I am delighted to congratulate Mr. Haoliang Xu on his appointment by the UN Secretary-General as Associate Administrator of UNDP. This new assignment is a culmination of almost 30 years of outstanding service and commitment to UNDP and ultimately to the work we do to support some of the worlds’ poorest and more vulnerable communities across the world. In an ever more complex world, I look forward to continue working closely with him as UNDP supports countries to overcome the development challenges of both today and tomorrow.”

Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Xu worked in the fields of civil engineering in China and the United States. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Bridge Engineering from Tongji University, a Masters degree in Management Science from the Stevens Institute of Technology, and a Masters degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. He is married and the proud father of one child.

Mr. Xu succeeds Ms. Usha Rao-Monari, Associate Administrator since April 2021. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator is grateful for her support during her tenure, especially in dealing with the extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency and conflicts.