A Chinese general will head the United Nations mission in Western Sahara, the first such appointment for a Chinese military leader in UN peacekeeping operations, a UN spokeswoman said Monday.

Major General Zhao Jingmin has been selected by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to lead the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, which was deployed more than a decade ago to organize a vote on whether the territory should become a full-fledged state or be incorporated with Morocco.

UN-mediated talks have been underway to settle the dispute over the territory, a former Spanish colony.

Spokeswoman Michelle Montas said Ban has informed the UN Security Council of his intention to appoint Zhao, whose country has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations but had never led one.

Zhao has served in UN operations in Kuwait and in Western Sahara.