Germany’s ambassador to China Jan Hecker dies suddenly days after taking office
- The 54-year-old was a confidant of outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel and appeared to be in good health on Friday
- Hecker’s appointment was seen as Merkel’s attempt to preserve her policy of engagement with Beijing
“It is with deep sadness and dismay that we learned of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China, Professor Dr Jan Hecker. Our thoughts at this moment are with the family and the people who were close to him,” it said. The brief statement did not elaborate.
Hecker, 54, was married with three children.
He appeared well on Friday night, when he hosted a cultural event at Germany’s embassy in Beijing highlighting the work of German artist Joseph Bueys. He spent the evening talking to many of the guests, including members of the China Academy of Fine Arts and journalists.
China’s foreign ministry offered condolences over Hecker’s death, with spokesman Wang Wenbin saying Hecker had “actively promoted bilateral relations” after taking the new position.