New Delhi, May 22 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres looks forward to working "very closely" with India's new Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. "We very much welcome India's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations," Dujarric said on Thursday.

"I know the Secretary-General looks forward to working very closely with the new envoy in the years ahead," he added.

Tirumurti presented his credentials virtually to Guterres on Wednesday because the COVID-19 precautions have stopped in-person interactions at the UN headquarters building.

Tirumurti takes over as India's permanent representative from Syed Akbaruddin, who retired on May 1, at a crucial time as it prepares to ser...