China strengthens Europe ties with appointment of first special envoy
- Wu Hongbo is a career diplomat who has held several posts in western Europe, including serving as ambassador to Germany from 2009-12
- He was also secretary of the Chinese foreign ministry’s Hong Kong and Macau unit and served on the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
China has named its first special envoy to take charge of European affairs ahead of a leadership reshuffle of the European Commission later this year, and as Beijing seeks support from Europe amid its protracted trade war with Washington.
Wu Hongbo, a career diplomat who has held several posts in western Europe, has been appointed China’s first special envoy on European affairs.
“As two important forces in the world, China and Europe have formed a multidimensional, multifaceted and wide-ranging cooperation,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular press conference in Beijing on Friday.
Wu was ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2012, before becoming United Nations undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs in 2012.
Wu has also had extensive experience in the Hong Kong and Macau division of the Chinese foreign ministry, as secretary of the ministry’s Hong Kong and Macau unit, serving on the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group – set up to handle matters related to the 1997 Hong Kong handover – as well as deputy commissioner of the foreign ministry office in Macau.