Published : 2024-05-09

On May 9, 2017, Qian Qichen, former Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, passed away in Beijing at the age of 90.

Qian Qichen joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1942 and entered the Communist Youth League system after the founding of New China.

He was sent to the Central Communist Youth League School in the Soviet Union for further studies in 1954, and was transferred to the Chinese Embassy in the Soviet Union the next year, marking the beginning of his decades-long diplomatic career.

Fluent in Russian and English, Qian was active in Chinese diplomacy and on the world stage with his wise, pragmatic and flexible diplomatic means.

He presided over major diplomatic events such as the normalisation of China's relation with the former Soviet Union, and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Singapore and other ASEAN countries.

In addition, Qian Qichen was also involved in the negotiations and preparatory work for China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao.

In 1995, Qian published "Basic Principles and Policies of the Central Government regarding the Handling of Taiwan-related Matters in Hong Kong," also known as the "Qian's Seven Principles," which served as guiding principles for the Special Administrative Governments of Hong Kong and Macao to handle Taiwan issues.

Another well-known achievement of Qian Qichen was the establishment of the spokesperson system in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1982, as the Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qian held China's first Foreign Ministry press conference in the capacity of a spokesperson.