(VOVworld) – The United Nations General Assembly has elected Fiji’s UN Ambassador Peter Thomson as president of its 71^st session beginning in September.

Fiji U.N. Ambassador Peter Thomson speaks after his election as the new president of the U.N. General Assembly, Monday June 13, 2016, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In a close voting that comprised of 193 members, Peter Thomson won 94 votes against Cyprus Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis’ 90 votes. Speaking after the election, Thomson said all members are united with the UN’s 17 targets approved by the world leaders last year to eradicate poverty, promote the development and equality, and protect the environment. Thomson pledged to increase the transparency of the General Assembly after its former president was accused of receiving 1.3 million USD bribe from Chinese businessmen. Thomson will be in charge of the election of a new UN General Secretary to replace Ban Ki-moon, who will end his second 5-year term at the end of 2016.