Zhang Xiangchen
Zhang Xiangchen 张向晨 | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization | |
| Assumed office May 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1965 (age 60) Laishui, Hebei, China |
| Party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Education | Bachelor of Laws, Master’s in International Relations Theory, Doctorate in International Politics |
| Alma mater | Peking University |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Zhang Xiangchen (Chinese: 张向晨; born June 1965) is a Chinese diplomat who currently serves as the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He is a member of the Chinese Communist Party. Zhang holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, a master's degree in international relations theory, and a doctorate in international politics, all from Peking University.[1]
Biography
Zhang Xiangchen was born in June 1965 in Laishui County, Hebei Province. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in November 1985 and began working in April 1991 after completing his studies at Peking University. He served successively as Deputy Division Director and Division Director in the Department of International Affairs of the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). In July 2000, he was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Affairs. In November 2001, he became Deputy Director-General of the Department of World Trade Organization Affairs and concurrently deputy director of the China WTO Notification and Enquiry Center.[2]
In July 2005, Zhang was promoted to Director-General of the Department of WTO Affairs and concurrently Director of the China WTO Notification and Enquiry Center. In June 2008, he was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative and Minister (Director-General level) of the Permanent Mission of China to the WTO. In August 2011, he became Director-General of the Policy Research Office of the Ministry of Commerce.[3]
In August 2013, Zhang was appointed Assistant Minister of Commerce and a member of the Party Leadership Group. In April 2015, he was promoted to Vice Ministerial-level Deputy International Trade Representative and continued as a member of the Party Leadership Group. In February 2017, Zhang was appointed Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the WTO, concurrently serving as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland.[4]
In November 2020, he became a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Commerce and was later appointed Vice Minister in December 2020, a position he left in 2021.[5][6] On 4 February 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally removed Zhang from his ambassadorial posts in Geneva. On 4 May 2021, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced Zhang as one of the four new Deputy Directors-General of the organization.[7][8]
References
- ^ "走近优秀毕业生系列报道之张向晨：北大走出的世贸谈判专家". 北京大学新闻网 (in Chinese). 2006-12-26. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "中国新任WTO副总干事是个性情中人！他擅长和美国人"过招"，还很会讲段子". export.shobserver.com. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "张向晨履新WTO副总干事，世贸组织改革待推进". sohu.com (in Chinese). 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "北大毕业、曾在德国进修的他，离京赴瑞士任职". export.shobserver.com. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "张向晨任商务部副部长、党组成员-新华网". Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "張向晨任中國商務部副部長 曾多次反駁美國指責受關注". 香港01 (in Chinese). 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "WTO副总干事张向晨：WTO改革不应是全部推倒重建，而是要创新机制、边做边改". 国际贸易 (in Chinese). 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ "WTO副总干事张向晨：WTO改革不应是全部推倒重建，而是要创新机制、边做边改". 21财经 (in Chinese). 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-10-17.