13 Facts About Qiao Guanhua

Qiao Guanhua was a politician and diplomat in the People's Republic of China and played an important role in the talks with United States on the opening of China and the drafting of the Shanghai Communique.

Qiao Guanhua was born in Yancheng in 1913; his father was a local land-owner, considered relatively illuminated.

Qiao Guanhua graduated in 1933 and went to Japan to continue his studies at the Tokyo Imperial University.

Qiao Guanhua joined the Japanese Communist Party, leading to his expulsion from the university.

Qiao Guanhua was then forced to travel to Germany, where he obtained a PhD at the University of Tubingen in 1937, when he was 24 years old.

Qiao Guanhua engaged mainly in journalism with the pen name of Qiaomu, working on the international review of several newspapers in Hong Kong.

Qiao Guanhua served as head of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, deputy director of the General Office of the Central People's Government, vice-president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, head of the Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

In 1969, Qiao was appointed head of the Chinese delegation for the talks with the Soviet Union regarding the Zhenbao Island, where military fighting had erupted.

In 1973, due to the success of the Sino-US negotiations, and after a personal commendation by Mao, Qiao Guanhua took on increasingly important roles.

Qiao Guanhua was elected a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and later was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1974, confirmed by the 4th National People's Congress in 1975.

Qiao Guanhua later made an apology to Zhou, which was accepted.

Qiao Guanhua died of cancer in September 1983, aged 70.

In 1973, Qiao Guanhua married Zhang Hanzhi, adopted daughter of the revolutionary journalist Zhang Shizhao and English interpreter for chairman Mao, after she divorced Hong Junyan.