UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres looks forward to Germany's continued positive role in the world body as a new government was formed on Wednesday.

"First of all, we want to congratulate the new chancellor on taking up his post and leading the German government," said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' chief spokesman, when asked for the secretary-general's comment on the "changing of the guard" in Berlin.

"As you know, Germany is a critical and pivotal partner of the UN in peace and security, in development, in climate. And we really look forward to continuing to engage with Germany on all those files, and we look forward to Germany's leadership on those files, as well," he said.

On the departure of Angela Merkel as chancellor after 16 years in power, Dujarric said Guterres had "a very close and warm relationship" with her.

"I think she exemplified Germany's leadership on the issues that I've just listed, notably on climate. And I think the empathy and the leadership she showed during a number of refugee and migrant crises in Europe is something that Antonio Guterres personally admired," said the spokesman.

Olaf Scholz from the Social Democratic Party was sworn in as Germany's new chancellor on Wednesday after his party won the federal elections in September.