By Wu Yiwei, Dane Claussen and Peng Cheng
Originally from http://en.shisu.edu.cn/news/2014/2014,news,003604.shtml
SISU alumnus Qiu Guohong has been appointed China’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Qiu presented credentials on Feb. 28 to ROK President Park Geun-hye at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. He had submitted a copy of the credentials to Choi Jong-hyun, Chief of Protocol at South Korea’s foreign ministry, on Feb. 13.
Qiu, meeting with Choi, said, “China and the ROK are neighbors and important partners to each other. I, the seventh Chinese Ambassador to the ROK, will try to make positive contributions to the development of the two countries.”
President Park Geun-hye welcomed Ambassador Qiu, and asked him to convey her greetings to President Xi Jinping. Park said that both the ROK and China are accelerating the process of implementing last year’s Joint Statement for the Future, and that various exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are making new progress. The ROK is willing to join hands with China to consistently push forward the strategic cooperative partnership, the president said.
Ambassador Qiu conveyed President Xi Jinping’s warm regards and best wishes to President Park Geun-hye. Qiu said China values China-ROK relations and also is willing to make joint efforts with the ROK in their partnership. The ambassador said he will work closely with ROK and spare no effort to increase exchanges and other cooperation.
ROK Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se, the President’s Chief Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Security Ju Chul-ki, Minister Counselor and DCM of Chinese Embassy in the ROK Chen Hai, and Military Attaché Du Nongyi were present.
Qiu Guohong was born in Shanghai in 1957. He graduated from School of Japanese Studies in Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in 1981 and then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qiu became a known expert in Japanese affairs, having served in China’s Embassy and consulate in Japan for several terms in different capacities since 1983. The new ambassador has also served as vice director general at the Chinese foreign ministry’s Department of European-Central Asian Affairs and China’s ambassador to Nepal from 2008 to 2011. He has been secretary of External Security Affairs since April 2011. It is his first time to serve in South Korea.
