Ma Zhaoxu (also spelled as Ma Chao-hsü; Chinese: 马朝旭; pinyin: Mǎ Zhāoxù; born 1 September 1963) is a Chinese diplomat who is currently the Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ma Zhaoxu
马朝旭
Ma in 2022
Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
13 January 2023
MinisterQin Gang
Wang Yi
Preceded byLe Yucheng
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
15 July 2019
MinisterWang Yi (1st term)
Qin Gang
Wang Yi (2nd term)
Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations
In office
25 January 2018 – 10 July 2019
Preceded byLiu Jieyi
Succeeded byZhang Jun
Permanent Representative of China to United Nations Office in Geneva
In office
6 April 2016 – 6 January 2018
Preceded byWu Hailong
Succeeded byYu Jianhua
Chinese Ambassador to Australia
In office
23 August 2013 – 27 March 2016
Preceded byChen Yuming
Succeeded byCheng Jingye
Personal details
Born (1963-09-01) 1 September 1963 (age 60)
Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Children1
ResidenceBeijing
Alma materPeking University
London School of Economics and Political Science
OccupationPolitician, diplomat

He previously served as the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as well as the director-general of its Information Department. He also served as China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York City from January 2018 to July 2019.[1]

Early life edit

Ma Zhaoxu was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang province in September 1963. He graduated from Peking University with a degree in international relations. In 1986, he participated in the inaugural Asian college students debating competition organized by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and won the "best debater" award, becoming well known to PRC college students at the time.[2][3]

Career edit

Ma joined the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1987 and served in various departments and embassies, including counselor at the PRC embassy in the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2002 and counselor at the PRC embassy in Belgium from 2002 to 2004. He was appointed deputy director of the Policy Planning Department in 2004 and director in 2006. In January 2009, he replaced Liu Jianchao as the director-general of the Information Department as well as the head spokesperson of the ministry.[4][5][6]

In April 2010, as spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ma stated that “there are no dissidents in China”, while China responds disapprovingly to the Nobel prize having been awarded to incarcerated Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.[7]

On 6 April 2016, he was appointed as the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and other International Organizations.[8]

In 2018, Ma succeeded Liu Jieyi as China's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.[9]

Ma was recalled back to China and appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on July 15, 2019.[10] As vice minister, he is responsible for managing international organizations and conferences, international economy and arms control affairs.[10]

On 13 January 2023, Ma was appointed to the role of Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs taking charge of all daily working affairs. This position is equivalent to a ministerial-level rank.[11]

Personal life edit

Ma is married with one daughter and one grandchild. His daughter attended Beijing Jingshan School, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and George Washington University.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ 中国常驻联合国代表马朝旭大使即将离任. sina (in Chinese). 2019-07-10.
  2. ^ 外交部发言人刘建超离任 接任者系20年前最佳辩手 [Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao leaves post, successor was best debater 20 years ago] (in Chinese (China)). China.org.cn. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  3. ^ "Debater becomes spokesman for Foreign Ministry". China Daily. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  4. ^ 马朝旭接任外交部新闻司司长 [Ma Zhaoxu succeeds as director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department] (in Chinese (China)). Xinhua. 2009-01-15. Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  5. ^ 外交部新闻司长刘建超将离任 接任者马朝旭亮相 [Ma Zhaoxu succeeds Liu Jianchao as director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department] (in Chinese (China)). People's Daily. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  6. ^ "New head of information department in China's Foreign Ministry". People's Daily. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  7. ^ "马朝旭:给刘晓波颁奖是鼓励中国境内犯罪". BBC. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu Presented Credentials".
  9. ^ Hong Xiao (1 February 2018). "New UN envoy talks of key China role". China Daily. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b 马朝旭任外交部副部长 被丢进泳池的北大最佳辩手. sina (in Chinese). 2019-07-15.
  11. ^ "马朝旭任外交部分管日常业务工作的副部长 明确为正部长级". Economic Daily. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

External links edit

Government offices
Preceded by Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
2023–present
Incumbent