Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CHINA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Wang Guangya, the new Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Wang held several positions with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including that of Vice Minister, from 1999 to the present, and Assistant Minister, from 1998 to 1999.  From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Wang served as Director-General of the Ministry’s Department of International Organizations and Conferences.  From 1992 to 1993, he served as Counsellor and Deputy Director-General of the Department, and from 1988 to 1992 he was Counsellor in China’s Mission to the United Nations.

Mr. Wang first served in China’s United Nations Mission from 1977 to 1983, with one year of that period devoted to graduate study at Johns Hopkins University.  From 1983 to 1988, he was successively Third Secretary, Deputy Director and Director, Department of International Organizations and Conferences in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Mr. Wang’s career in diplomatic service began in 1975 with his appointment to the Department of Translation and Interpretation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A university graduate, Mr. Wang was born in Jiang Su Province in March 1950.  He is married with one son.

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