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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Zhaoxing

李肇星

Li in 2005

9th Minister of Foreign Affairs

 In office

17 March 2003 – 27 April 2007

Premier Wen Jiabao

Preceded by Tang Jiaxuan

Succeeded by Yang Jiechi

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

In office

2001–2003

Minister Tang Jiaxuan

In office

1995–1998

Minister Qian Qichen

Chinese Ambassador to the United States

In office

11 March 1998 – 30 January 2001

Preceded by Li Daoyu

Succeeded by Yang Jiechi

Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations

In office

March 1993 – May 1995

Preceded by Li Daoyu

Succeeded by Qin Huasun

Personal details

Born 20 October 1940 (age 83)

Jiaonan, Shandong, Japanese-occupied China

(now Huangdao, Shandong, China)

 Political party Chinese Communist Party

Spouse Qin Xiaomei

Children Li Hehe (son)

Relatives Qin Feng (niece-in-law)

Alma mater Peking University

Li Zhaoxing (Chinese: 李肇星; pinyin: Lǐ Zhàoxīng; born 20 October 1940) is a Chinese

diplomat and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of China from 2003 to
2007. He previously served as Ambassador of China to the United States from 1998 to
2001, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations from 1993 to 1995,
and deputy director and director of information department at Ministry of Foreign Affairs
from 1985 to 1993.
Early life[edit]
Li was born in Jiaonan County in Qingdao, Shandong. He studied at the Department of
Western Languages at Peking University and after graduation in 1964, he was selected
to study at Beijing Foreign Studies University. After graduation, he entered the Chinese
People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Following the start of Cultural Revolution, he was
forced to drop out of the institute and work in cadre schools and farms
in Shanxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hebei and Guangdong Provinces. During his time in
Guangdong, he experienced Typhoon Viola in 1969.[1][2]
Early career (1970-2001)[edit]
After being reinstated into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of
China in 1970, he was assigned as a staff and attaché with the Chinese Embassy
in Kenya. In 1977, he was appointed as staff member and deputy director of the
Information Department within thew ministry, serving until 1983. From 1983 to 1985, he
served as a first secretary at the Embassy of China in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Li
considered his diplomatic work in Africa as "may be the most energetic days and
months in my life."[1][3]
Li returned to China in 1985 and served successively as deputy director, director and
spokesperson of the Information Department in the ministry. In 1990, he was promoted
to Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and in 1993, he was appointed as Permanent
Representative of China to the United Nations. Two years later, he was promoted to
Vice Foreign Minister. In 1998, he was appointed as Chinese Ambassador to the United
States. During his tenure as ambassador, the relations between China and the United
States were strained heavily during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia when
the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, was bombed by the United States
during the NATO bombing on 7 May 1999, killing three Chinese nationals. In response
to incident, Li called the incident as an "horrifying atrocity" and demanded that NATO
investigate the incident. On 13 May, after President of the United States Bill
Clinton issued a public apology for the incident, Li was present at the Oval Office in
the White House when Clinton signed the official condolence book. Following the end of
his tenure as ambassador in 2001, the Mayor of Washington D.C. Anthony A.
Williams declared 29 January 2001, which was Li's last day in office as ambassador, as
"Li Zhaoxing Day", in recognition of Li's efforts in fostering China-United States
relations.[1][4][5]
In 2001, following his return from the United States, Li was appointed as Vice-Minister.
On April 2001, in response to U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, Li said that the "Chinese side
strongly urges the U.S. side to recognize the serious, harmful and dangerous nature of
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan." On the same month, when asked about the return of
the U.S. Navy P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft which made emergency landing on Hainan
Island during the Hainan Island incident, he stated that "if we allow such a military
plane, which had a mission of spying on China, to be flown back out of China, that will
further hurt the dignity and sentiments of the Chinese people." Eventually, the Chinese
allowed the aircraft to be returned back to the United States in July 2001. [1][6][7][8]
Foreign Minister (2003-2007)[edit]

Li meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin

Powell (2004) Li (back row, third from right) witnessing

the exchanging agreements by Peter Mandelson, member of the European
Commission in charge of Trade, and Minister of Commerce of China Bo Xilai on the

new EU-China Environmental Programmes (2005) Li

meeting with the Minister of External Affairs of India Natwar Singh and Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov in Vladivostok, Russia (2005)
The National People's Congress elected Li as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs on 16
March 2003, succeeding Tang Jiaxuan.[9] On the same day after being made the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the threat of military action against Iraq by the United States
and United Kingdom loomed. As a result, Li made a last-ditch effort to avoid the war
from happening by urging peaceful resolution by in phone calls to American, British and
Russian officials, stating that the "common wish of the international community is for
peace instead of war." On March 18, Li reiterated that "that a war against Iraq can be
avoided and the crisis can be solved within the U.N. framework by political means."
When the war began on 20 March, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on
the "political settlement of the Iraq issue within the UN framework, urging the Iraqi
Government to fully and earnestly implement relevant Security Council resolutions and
calling for respect for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity by the international
community" and "war will inevitably lead to humanitarian disasters and undermine the
security, stability and development of the region and the world at large." On March 24,
in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Li appealed for cessation of
military operations and expressed concern of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by
the war.[10][11][12][13]
Li met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang, North Korea on March
2004, as part of international diplomacy in dealing with North Korea's nuclear weapons
programme.[14] On April 2005, following the outbreak of 2005 anti-Japanese
demonstrations in China in response to the approval of a Japanese history
textbook and the proposal that Japan be granted a permanent seat on the United
Nations Security Council, Li met with Foreign Minister of Japan Nobutaka Machimura in
Beijing. During the meeting, Li stated the "Chinese government has never done
anything for which it has to apologise to the Japanese people" and "the main problem
now is the Japanese government has done a series of things that have hurt the feelings
of the Chinese people, on the Taiwan issue, some international issues including human
rights and especially in its treatment of history."[15][16]
On August 2007, following President of Taiwan Chen Shui-bian's advocacy
of Taiwanese independence, Li said to a group of Taiwanese journalists at a press
briefing to not to listen to "local [Taiwanese] leaders" and that "whoever wants to split
away will become a criminal in history."[17]
He stepped down as Minister of Foreign Affairs on April 2007 and was succeeded
by Yang Jiechi. According to leaked US embassy cables, it was alleged that
then President of China Hu Jintao had Li fired following Hu's 2006 visit to the United
States which saw numerous debacles such as no state dinner at the White House, lack
of national flags flying between the Blair House and the White House, the presence
of Falun Gong protestor at the White House lawn and the national anthem of the
People's Republic of China referred as the anthem of the Republic of China.[18][19]
During his 40 year tenure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li published over 200
poems and was nicknamed "poet minister.[20][5] However, due to his firm stance on
the Taiwan issue, coupled with his striking personal image, some people refer to him as
"the minister with a bad temper". Some Taiwanese media consider his rhetoric to be
arrogant and in some diplomatic circles, he is often seen as lacking in diplomatic
demeanor, with some even referring to him as the "Red Guard Ambassador" or the
"Fighting Cock".[21]
Later career[edit]

Li meeting with Lativan politician and Speaker of the

Saeima Gundars Daudze (2011)
After stepping down as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Li was appointed as chairman of
the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress and a member of
the 11th National People's Congress in 2008. He retired in March 2013.[22][23] He was
initially appointed as one of the Elders but chose not to continue with the role. He
served as a professor at Peking University.[24][25]
Li was appointed as the president of China Public Diplomacy Association in 2012, a
position he would serve till 2019.[5][26] On 5 March 2012, at a press conference of the
National People's Congress, Li stated that China does not have direct elections as
China is too big and some places have inconvenient transportation so direct elections
are inconvenient. He was ridiculed for his comments by netizens.[27]
In January 2022, he joined the Chinese video platform Bilibili. In his first video
published in the platform, he spoke of his life and diplomatic experiences, and
concluded the video by remarking a quote made by Confucius: "When I walk with two
others, they may serve as my teachers."[28]Li was the Chinese representative for the 7th
China–Australia High-Level Dialogue held in Beijing in September 2023, the first such
summit in three years.[29]
Personal life[edit]
Li is married to Qin Xiaomei, who also served as a diplomat. Qin's father served a
secretary to former President of China Liu Shaoqi and as head of the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Li's son Li Hehe is a graduate of Harvard
University and University of Pennsylvania who founded a network which exclusively
handles queries of China's CET-4 and CET-6 exam scores.[30][31][32]
His niece-in-law Qin Feng worked as a reporter for Phoenix Television and has
interviewed Chinese politicians.[33]
Awards[edit]
 Central African Republic:
o Grand Officer of the Order of Central African Merit (6
January 2007)[34]

 Mexico:
o Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (16 November
2006)[35]
References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Li Zhaoxing". www.fmprc.gov.cn. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
2. ^ "李肇星：写一本说真话的书". cpcnews. 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
3. ^ "李肇星". China Daily. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
4. ^ "Will protest in China go amok?". Deseret News. 1999-05-10. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b c Bwambale, Taddeo (2024-08-19). "Li Zhaoxing: China's 'poetic-
diplomat'". People's Daily. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
6. ^ "China warns of 'dangerous path' in arms sales". CNN. 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
7. ^ Chandler, Mark (2001-05-10). "China Said to Fear Reaction If Plane Is Released". The
New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
8. ^ "EP-3 Collision, Crew Detainment, Release, and Homecoming". Naval History and Heritage
Command. 2001-05-10. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
9. ^ Kahn, Joseph (2003-03-17). "New Leaders Named by China, Capping Wide
Transition". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
10. ^ Olesen, Alexa (2003-03-16). "Chinese Premier Tries to Avert Iraq War". Midland Daily
News. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
11. ^ "China's Position on the US War in Iraq". Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of
China to the UN. 2003-03-26. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
12. ^ "China says peace still possible". CNN. 2003-03-18. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
13. ^ Wo-Lap Lam, Willy (2003-03-24). "China calls for end to war". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-
10.
14. ^ "Chinese Foreign Minister Meets with North Korean Leader". Voice of America. 2009-10-
29. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
15. ^ Xinhua (2005-04-18). "China tells Japan: Take 'concrete actions' on history". China Daily.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
16. ^ "China rejects Japan apology demand". Al Jazeera. 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
17. ^ Buckley, Christ; Jennings, Ralph (2007-08-10). "China slams independence talk from
Taiwan". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
18. ^ Walker, Peter (2007-04-27). "China appoints new foreign minister". The Guardian.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
19. ^ "Hu's anger over 2006 US trip sees official fired". South China Morning Post. 2011-01-25.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
20. ^ "李肇星：出身青岛农家爱好写诗 富贵不忘本". .scio.gov.cn. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2024-
04-10.
21. ^ Wu, Suli (2001-11-10). "Red Guards don't die; they become diplomats". Taipei Times.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
22. ^ "十一届全国人大三次会议大会发言人为李肇星". Sina. 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
23. ^ ""铁嘴"李肇星退休倒计时 赠陈毅诗选勉励记者". Xinhua. 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2024-04-
10.
24. ^ "Li Zhaoxing 李肇星". chinavitae.com.
25. ^ "Mandela unveils 'council of elders'". Al Jazeera. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
 26. ^ "资深外交官吴海龙已经正式出任中国公共外交协会会长". The Paper. 2019-10-13.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
27. ^ "交通不便直选难 乌坎模式前路艰". Voice of America. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
28. ^ Li, Qian (2022-01-06). "Former foreign minister 'who loves life' interacts with young
Chinese on Bilibili". Shanghai Daily. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
29. ^ Wu, Huizhong (7 September 2023). "Australia and China open their first high-level dialogue
in 3 years in a sign of a slight thaw". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
30. ^ "秦小梅". fcollege.nankai.edu.cn. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
31. ^ "李禾禾是谁？父亲是前外交部长李肇星，岳父系著名歌唱家阎维文". Sohu. 2023-11-26.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
32. ^ "党员风范：从抗日战士到外交官的秦力真". Sohu. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
33. ^ "香港著名记者秦枫：喜欢采访有"个性"的领导人". People's Daily. 2012-11-08.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
34. ^ "中非总统会见李肇星 授予李外长中非大军官勋章". China News. 2007-01-06.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.
35. ^ "ACUERDO por el que se otorga al Excelentísimo señor Li Zhaoxing, Ministro de
Relaciones Exteriores de la República Popular China, la Condecoración de la Orden
Mexicana del Aguila Azteca en el grado de Banda". dof.gob.mx. 2006-11-16.
Retrieved 2024-04-10.

External links[edit]
 Biography, China Vitae
 Biography, China Today
 Appearances on C-SPAN

Diplomatic posts

Ambassador of China to the Succeeded by

United Nations
1993–1995 Qin Huasun
Preceded by
Li Daoyu Ambassador of China to the Succeeded by
United States
1998–2001 Yang Jiechi

Political offices

Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs Succeeded by

Tang Jiaxuan 2003–2007 Yang Jiechi

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 Beijing Foreign Studies University alumni
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