Antonio Guterres (Xinhua photo)

The United Nations is now selecting a new Secretary-General, to succeed the current Ban Ki-moon who will conclude on 31 December 2016. The selection, for the first time in 70-year history involves public discussions with each candidate campaigning for the world's top diplomatic post.

A total of 11 candidates run for the race, 5 of which are females. They once took important positions in their own countries or have worked with UN for many years.

During the two rounds of informal dialogues held by UN General Assembly in April and June, the candidates were asked a wide range of issues. Besides the regular topics about wars, refugees, climate change and security, some unexpected questions were thrown up, involving feminism and hopes for the future.

Irina Bokova (Xinhua photo)

Moreover, some of the candidates also show their multilanguage proficiency, such as Igor Luksic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Prime Minister of Montenegro (https://twitter.com/i_luksic), Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO and former Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (https://twitter.com/irinabokova),and Antonio Guterres, former Prime Minister of Portugal and two-term United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (www.antonioguterres.gov.pt/).

Morgens Lykketoft, President of the General Assembly told the UN News Center that it is a more transparent process of selecting and electing the next Secretary-General of UN.

Igor Luksic (Xinhua photo)

"Social media will play a very important role in this whole process", said Mr. Lykketoft, adding that he hopes the candidates will take the time to answer all the questions in the coming weeks and months.

It is known that almost all the campaigners have their accounts on twitter, and the Portuguese Antonio Guterres has launched his official website.