China set to decide if Costa Rican or Guyanese diplomat becomes first woman UN chief

AI Summary

China is nearing a decision on whether a Costa Rican economist or a Guyanese diplomat will become the first woman to lead the United Nations following a deadlock in Security Council informal voting. Beijing's choice highlights its significant influence over the UN chief selection process.

China is poised to decide which of two Latin American women becomes the first to lead the United Nations, after three rounds of informal voting in the Security Council failed to produce a favourite. Several UN delegations that spoke to the South China Morning Post over the past three days said Beijing was weighing Rebeca Grynspan, the Costa Rican economist who heads UN Trade and Development, and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s ambassador to the UN. The same delegations said China had ruled...