A career diplomat, joined the Chinese Foreign Service in 1974.

Career Data:

1970-1974 Dalian University of Foreign Languages, China

1974-1975 Desk Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1975-1978 Political Officer, Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Zambia

1978-1982 Desk Officer, Division of U.S. Affairs, Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1982-1983 The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, U.S.A.

1983-1989 Deputy Director, Division of U.S. Affairs, Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1989-1990 Second Secretary, Chinese Embassy in the United States

1990-1993 First Secretary, Chinese Embassy in the United States

1993-1994 Director, Division of U.S. Affairs, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1994-1995 Counselor, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1995-1998 Deputy Director-General, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1998-2001 Minister (Deputy Chief of Mission), Chinese Embassy in the United States

2001-2003  Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt

2003-2004 Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2004           Deputy Secretary-General, Government of Gansu Province

2004-2005 Assistant Governor of Gansu Province

2005-2006 Vice Minister, Office of the Foreign Affairs Leading Group of the CPC Central Committee

2006-2009 Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

2009- Ambassador to the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Education:

Graduated from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, China in 1974 and earned a Master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, U.S.A. in 1983.

Honors:

The Fletcher Dean's Medal, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, U.S.A.(2007)

The First Class Friendship Medal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (2010)

The Fletcher Class of 1947 Memorial Award (2014)

The 48 Group Club Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sino-British Relations (2016)

The Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, the University of Nottingham (2017)

The Freedom of the City of London (2018)

The Honorary Doctorate of the University of Huddersfield (2019)

Married to Hu Pinghua, a career diplomat. They have one son.