Tang Jiaxuan (1938.1.17-) State Councillor of the People's Republic of China (2003.3-), Foreign Minister (1998.3.18-2003.3)

Born in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, Tang Jiaxuan studied first in Fudan University in Shanghai and then in Beijing University from 1955 to 1962. From 1962 to 1964, he conducted probation in Overseas Service Department of Broadcasting Administration of the People's Republic of China. Later, he successively served as member of the Translation Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Second Secretary and then First Secretary in the Chinese Embassy in Japan, First Secretary and then Deputy Director-General (1985.5-1988.4) of Department of Asian Affairs, Minister Counsellor, Minister (1988.4-1991.12) in Chinese Embassy in Japan, Assistant Foreign Minister (1991.12 –1993.3) and Vice-Foreign Minister (1993.3-1998.3). He was member of the 15th Central Committee of the CNC. In his tenure of vice-foreign minister, he was in charge of Asian affairs, and consular and protocol work and paid visits to countries in North East Asia, South East Asia, and South Asia. As head of the Chinese government delegation, he participated the boundary negotiations at the government level and consultations at the level of vice foreign minister between China and Viet Nam. In October 1993, he and his Vietnamese counterpart signed the agreement on basic principles to guide the settlement of the boundary questions between the two countries. In the capacity of head of the Chinese delegation, he chaired the joint talks of working groups and consultations at the level of vice-foreign minister on the Sino-Indian boundary questions, and the boundary negotiations between China and Bhutan. In September 1993, on behalf of the Chinese government, he signed the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility along the Line of Actual Control in the China-India Border Areas. In April 1995, as head of the Chinese delegation, he went to Indonesia to attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement and the commemoration of 40th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. From 1995 to 1997, he attended the consultations at the vice-foreign minister level between China and ASEAN, as head of the Chinese delegation. After taking the office of foreign minister, from April 11 to 13, 1998, he paid a working visit to Indonesia. On June 4, he chaired the Meeting Foreign Ministers of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council on the Nuclear Tests by India and Pakistan, which was initiated by China and the US. From June 9 to 20, he paid visits to five African countries, including Guinea, Cote d'Voire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. On July 25, as head of the Chinese delegation, he attended the fifth ARF Ministerial meeting, 10+3, and 10+1 meetings held in Manila. On 29th, he made a stopover visit to the Philippines. On 31st, he paid a working visit to Malaysia. On August 31st, he led a delegation to attend the Non-Alignment Movement Summit in Durban. On September 18th, he attended the 53rd Session of the UN General Assembly and addressed the meeting on 23rd. From September 27th to 29th, he paid a visit to the US. From September 29th to October 4th, he paid a visit to Canada. From November 14th to 15th, he attended the 10th Ministerial Meeting of APEC held in Malaysia. From January 3rd to 16th, he paid visits to Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and France. From February 4th to 6th, he paid a working visit to Thailand and signed Joint Statement on 21st Century Cooperation Program between the People's Republic of China and Kingdom of Thailand. For a series of times, he accompanied the government and Party leaders in their visits abroad and participated in the important meetings between the Chinese heads of state and major leaders of the other countries.