Editing Jean Ping (section)

=== International positions ===
In 1972, Ping  began working as an international civil servant at [[UNESCO]] in Paris. He served as Gabon's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO from 1978 to 1984 before becoming involved in his country's politics. He was also president of [[OPEC]] in 1993.

In 2004, Ping was chosen to be the 59th President of the [[United Nations General Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.panapress.com/Jean-Ping-elu-president-de-la-59eme-Assemblee-generale-de-l-ONU--13-718412-18-lang4-index.html|title=Jean Ping élu président de la 59ème Assemblée générale de l'ONU|website=www.panapress.com|language=pt|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/fr/2004/GASM345.doc.htm|title=MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT DE LA 59ème SESSION DE L'ASSEMBLÉE GÉNÉRALE À L'OCCASION DE LA JOURNÉE DES NATIONS UNIES {{!}} Couverture des réunions & communiqués de presse|website=www.un.org|language=fr|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>

Ping was elected Chairperson of the Commission of the [[African Union]] in the first round in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/098/article_62231.asp|title=RFI – Jean Ping, nouveau président de la Commission|website=www1.rfi.fr|language=fr|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> He left the role in 2012.