The 72nd United Nations General Assembly officially kicks off, with a new president at its helm.

Slovakian diplomat Miroslav Lajcak assumes the office for the coming year. He’s promised to focus his attention on preventing conflicts that have triggered mass migrations.

CGTN’s Liling Tan sat down for an exclusive interview with the career diplomat. 

The two discussed Lajcak’s key priorities for the deliberative body and its 193 member states. 

In May, the UN General Assembly elected Slovakia’s foreign minister as its new president, by an overwhelming majority. But who is Miroslav Lajcak?

Honored to take my oath of office today. As President of #UNGA, I'll keep the focus on the people the @UN is meant to serve! pic.twitter.com/4yDKteIZ9C

— Miroslav Lajčák (@MiroslavLajcak) September 11, 2017

Lajcak’s diplomatic career spans 30 years. He is a three-term foreign minister, worked at Slovakia’s embassy in Moscow, served as Ambassador to the former Yugoslavia, and was the youngest ambassador posted in Japan.

Peter Thomson (left), President of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, passes the gavel on to Miroslav Lajčák (right), President of the seventy-second session, as Secretary-General António Guterres looks on. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

He’s also known here for his 2016 bid to become the next UN Secretary-General but lost to Antonio Guterres. Now, together, they’ll be working on issues including migration, climate action, conflict prevention and UN reforms.

The General Assembly is the UN’s largest body, where all 193 members have equal say. And for the next year, Miroslav Lajcak will serve as the maestro of this orchestra of nations.