Wang Yi (politician)
Wang Yi (Chinese: 王毅; pinyin: Wáng Yì; born 19 October 1953) is a Chinese diplomat and politician. He formerly served as China's Vice Foreign Minister, Ambassador to Japan, and Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office. As of March 2013, he is the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China.
Personal life
Wang was born in 1953 in Beijing. After graduating from high school in September 1969, he was sent to Northeast China. He subsequently served in the Northeast Construction Army Corps in Heilongjiang Province for eight years.
In December 1977, Wang returned to Beijing, and in the same year was enrolled in the department of Asian and African Languages of Beijing International Studies University (BISU). He studied the Japanese language at the institution, graduating in February 1982 with a bachelor's degree.
Wang's wife is the daughter of Qian Jiadong, the Foreign Affairs Secretary of Zhou Enlai.
Career
Early career
Upon graduation from university, Wang was sent to the Asian section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he began his career as a diplomat. In September 1989, he was sent to the Chinese Embassy in Japan and served there for five years. When he returned to China in March 1994, Wang was appointed as vice section chief of the Asian section of the Ministry and was promoted to section chief the next year. From August 1997 to February 1998, Wang was a visiting scholar at the Institute of Foreign Relations of Georgetown University in the United States. Soon after his return, he was promoted to Minister assistant and the director of office of policy research. From September 1999, Wang studied international relations at China Foreign Affairs University and obtained a master's degree. In February 2001, Wang was elevated to deputy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of Asian affairs. He was then the youngest deputy Minister.
