Wu Jianmin
Former Chinese Ambassador to France,
President of the International Exhibitions Bureau
On June 27, 2003, President Chirac of France held a party, for the first time, to say goodbye to China's leaving Ambassador, and conferred a medal on him to honor his contribution in "promoting the friendly understanding between the French and the Chinese peoples". This person is Wu Jianmin, China's senior diplomat who currently serves as President of the International Exhibitions Bureau, President of China Foreign Affairs University, and Vice Director of the CPPCC Foreign Affairs Committee.
Graduated from the Department of French, Beijing Foreign Languages Institute in 1959, Wu Jianmin joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became a translator. From 1959 to 1971, he interpreted many times for Chairman Mao Zedong, Primier Zhou Enlai and other State leaders. In 1971, he became a member of China's first Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and started his brilliant diplomatic career there. He later served as the spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China's Ambassador to the Netherlands, the Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Ambassador to France. He also played key roles in China's bid for the Olympics in 1993 (as one of the spokesman) and the bid for the 2010 World Expo in 2002. His excellent performance impressed people so much that he was elected President of the International Exhibitions Bureau in 2003.
Fluent both in French and English, President Wu Jianmin is ready to share his insights on language, culture and communication with all Congress participants.
(China.org.cn June 2, 2008)
