The selection of António Guterres — Portugal’s popular and widely respected former Prime Minister — as the new secretary general of the United Nations is a bold choice for world’s largest international organization, an historic milestone for the people of Portugal, and an unprecedented opportunity to enhance Portugal as a brand at a critical time for the nation.

Ban Ki-moon’s second term as U.N. secretary general ends Dec. 31, 2016. To many, his choice in 2006 validated the soft bigotry of low expectations with respect to the world organization. Considering the structural constraints within which he must function, Ban’s record is not all that bad. He has led from the front on issues like promoting more women to senior positions, climate change, the responsibility to protect, and a development agenda to follow the Millennium Development Goals that expire this year.

Focusing on the social and cultural contributions of migrants, as well as on the challenges they face, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged governments to implement policies that help migrants adapt and prosper in their host countries.