Huawei hires Serge Abou, former EU ambassador to China, as adviser
Former top diplomat had to wait 2 years before starting job, report says
The European Union's former top diplomat to China has become a consultant for telecommunications company Huawei in Brussels.
Huawei confirmed to the South China Morning Post that it had employed Serge Abou, the EU's top representative to China between 2005 and 2011, after several requests were made.
Abou declined to comment when reached by telephone at his Brussels home yesterday.
The Shenzhen-based company, which has faced allegations of espionage and dumping in the United States, is expanding aggressively in Europe, where it aims to add 5,500 jobs over the next five years.
Huawei has had its share of critics within the European Commission. "Huawei and ZTE are dumping their products on the European market," EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht told Reuters in May, suggesting a probe into the company's sales in Europe was possible.
Abou had provided general strategic advice on matters relating to the global economy and political matters, a spokesman at Huawei's office in Brussels told the Post.