China is likely to tap Zhang Xinsen, director of general office of the Chinese foreign ministry, as its new ambassador to Seoul, news reports said Saturday, citing diplomatic sources.
The move, if proved, is seen as a “notch up” from China’s past practice since 1992 when the two former Cold War adversaries established full diplomatic relations.
China, a traditionally strong ally to North Korea, had been sending vice-ministerial level ambassadors to North Korea, while sending its top envoys to South Korea who were lower in rank than those it sent to the North.
JoongAng Ilbo said the Chinese “upgrade” is a sign of its positive response to South Korea’s recent appointment of Yu Woo-ik, President Lee Myung-bak’s former top aide and also a confidant.
Once appointed, Zhang will replace Cheng Yonghua, who assumed his new post as China's ambassador to Japan last month.
Zhang was born in 1953 in Shanghai. He graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University, a top school in China, well known for producing many of its top diplomats. He also previously served as the Chinese ambassador to Ireland in 2005-2007.