About Speaker

Born in China’s Tianjin municipality, Qin received his bachelor’s degree in international politics from the University of International Relations and began his political career in 1988 working as a staff member for the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions. In 1992, he transitioned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to work in the Department of Western European Affairs. Qin climbed the ranks of the department, culminating in Qin serving as counselor, and later, minister, at the Chinese embassy in the UK from 2010 to 2011. Between those posts, Qin concurrently served as the official MOFA spokesperson and as deputy director-general of the ministry’s Information Department. Qin then served as director-general of MOFA’s Information and Protocol departments until 2014, when he became director-general of the Protocol Department. In 2017, his last year in that role, he concurrently served as assistant minister of foreign affairs. In 2018, Qin was appointed to vice minister of foreign affairs. Qin was appointed to be China’s ambassador to the United States in 2021. While Qin’s career has primarily focused on China’s ties with the UK and EU, diplomatic protocol, and media, he has contributed significantly to relations with the United States over the course of his career. When serving as MOFA spokesperson, he regularly interacted with American companies and the media. As director-general of the Protocol Department, Qin was deeply engaged in Chinese and US presidential visits and meetings. Qin is married and has a son.