On 17 October 2006, Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, in his dual capacity as President of the Security Council and Chair of the Asian Group for the month of October, hosted a reception at the official residence in honor of H.E. Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Korea and Secretary-General-designate of the United Nations. Ambassadors and representatives of the member states of the Security Council, of the Asian Group, and Chairmen of the other regional groups joined Ambassador Oshima in congratulating the Secretary-General-designate. Minister Ban will assume the position on 1 January 2007, becoming the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and the second Asian Secretary-General since U Thant held the post from 1961 to 1971.