Wu Hongbo (; born May 1952 in

Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...

) is a Chinese

diplomat A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...

who served as the special representative of the Chinese government for European affairs from November 2019 to February 2025. Wu served as the Chinese ambassador to Germany from August 2009 to July 2012. From July 2012 to July 2017, he was the

Under-Secretary-General An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...

in the

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Econ ...

. He replaced Sha Zukang as the head of DESA.

Biography

Wu Hongbo was born in May 1952 in

. He obtained his degree from the English Department of the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute and commenced his career at the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

in 1976 as a clerk in the Diplomatic Service Bureau in Beijing. In 1978, he attended

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington (), also known by its shorter names "VUW" or "Vic", is a public university, public research university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of New Zealand Parliament, Parliament, and w ...

in New Zealand for advanced studies. In 1980, he joined the staff of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand and returned in 1981 to serve as a clerk in the Diplomatic Service Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. In 1987, he assumed the role of Second Secretary and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1988, he assumed the role of Second Secretary at the Chinese Representative Office of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group. In 1991, he assumed the role of First Secretary and Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1995, he assumed the role of Representative for the Chinese contingent of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, holding the rank of Counselor. In 1997, he assumed the role of Counselor in the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong. In 1998, he assumed the role of Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In November 1998, he assumed the role of Chief Representative for the Chinese contingent of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, holding the rank of Ambassador. In 1999, he assumed the position of Deputy Director-General of the . In 2000, he assumed the role of Director-General of the , and in August 2002, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao. In March 2004, he was appointed Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Philippines. In October 2005, he assumed the role of Director of the . In 2007, he was elevated to Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseeing European Regional Affairs, Information, and Consular Affairs. In August 2009, he became Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Germany. In May 2012, he was designated by United Nations Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was the South Korean minister ...

United Nations Secretariat The United Nations Secretariat is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), The secretariat is the UN's executive arm. The secretariat has an important role in setting the agenda for the deliberative and decision-making bodi ...

for Economic and Social Affairs, and in August 2012, he officially assumed this role.UNDESA leadership
UN website - UNDESA leadership In November 2019, he became the first Special Representative of the Chinese government for European Affairs.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wu, Hongbo Living people Diplomats of the People's Republic of China Chinese officials of the United Nations Ambassadors of China to Germany 1952 births People from Tai'an Ambassadors of China to the Philippines