BEIJING, March 24 (UPI) -- China announced Thursday one of its top diplomats, Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong, will become the next ambassador to the United States.
The announcement was made by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Liu Jianchao in opening remarks to a regularly scheduled press briefing. On Tuesday a reporter had asked Liu about current ambassador Yang Jiechi's promotion to Vice Foreign Minister, a move that will bring him back to Beijing.
Zhou, 59, is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in America, beginning before full, normalized, bilateral relations were established in 1979. With this upcoming assignment as ambassador, Zhou will have had served diplomatic missions in the United States for the PRC during every presidential administration since Jimmy Carter.
Zhou was China's ambassador to the Caribbean nations of Barbados as well as Antigua and Barbuda between 1990 and 1993. He was ambassador to Australia from 1998 to 2001.
His most recent portfolio carried the responsibilities for America, Oceania and Latin America Affairs, international relations involving Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, the 'Foreign-related Security,' plus the Translation and Interpretation bureaus within the foreign ministry.
