UN Secretary General Kofi Annan officially steps down on December 31, 2006, ending his 10-year term as UN chief.

Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan bows his head as he acknowledges applause in the General Assembly Hall after speaking before the swearing-in ceremony for the new Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of South Korea at the U.N. in New York in this file photo taken on December 14, 2006.[Reuters]

In the past 10 years, Annan led his UN team bustling about in the world to solve conflicts, safeguard peace, eliminate poverty, provide humanitarian assistance, promote development, combat terrorism, safeguard human rights and push forward UN reforms.

He has made unremitting efforts and outstanding contributions to safeguarding world peace, promoting common development, deepening global cooperation and strengthening the role of the UN.

He was praised as one of the most popular UN secretary-generals of the highest attainments.

Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on April 8. 1938. He studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and completed his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in Minnesota, the United States, in 1961. As a 1971-1972 Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Annan received a Master of Science degree in management. Annan is fluent in English, French and several African languages.

Annan joined the United Nations system in 1962. Since then, he has served in the World Health Organization, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Emergency Force, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UN headquarters in New York, and as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management and Security Coordinator for the UN System and Assistant Secretary-General for Program Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller.

Before being appointed secretary-general, Annan served as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations (March 1992-February 1993) and then as Under-Secretary-General (March 1993-December 1996).

From November 1995 to March 1996, following the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Annan served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the former Yugoslavia, overseeing the transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the United Nations Protection Force to the multinational Implementation Force led by NATO.

On December 17, 1996, the 51st UN General Assembly appointed Annan the 7th UN Secretary-General. Annan became the first black UN chief in the world body's history. In 2001, he was re-elected.

In recent years, wars and conflicts, natural disasters, disease and poverty have continuously posed threats to world peace and development. Annan and his team have always been on the front of safeguarding peace and helping people in poverty and disaster. He was on the scene in person in many extremely dangerous regions such as Iraq, Kosovo and Darfur.

In April 2000, he issued the Millennium Report, calling on member states to commit themselves to an action plan for ending poverty and inequality, improving education, reducing HIV/AIDS, safeguarding the environment and protecting people from deadly conflict and violence. The report formed the basis of the Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of state or government at the Millennium Summit, held at the UN Headquarters in September 2000.

He has devoted to pushing forward the reforms of the UN and enhancing its efficiency. Many reform measures have been implemented.

On December 10, 2001, the secretary-general and the United Nations received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee said Annan "had been pre-eminent in bringing new life to the Organization."

He has also experienced many difficult times in his 10-year term. The "oil for food" scandal has greatly tainted the image of the UN and he failed to hold back the Iraq war, which was the biggest regret for his term.