CONFIDENTIAL
Communist-sponsored World Youth Festivals in 1955 and 1957, which were held in Warsaw and Moscow, respectively. In the early sixties his foriegn visits were more often as a member of a Chinese "peace" or "friendship" delegation. By 1964, he had become a leading official of an unknown department under the Party Central Committee. But he made no appearances between 1966 and 1972 and nothing is known of his fate during the Cultural Revolution.
In 1973 Wu re-emerges as a leading member of the Party Central Committee's International Liaison Department and by 1978 was its Deputy Director. His swift promotion in 1982 to be senior Vice- Minister of Foreign Affairs (probably with responsibility for Asia) and to Minister a few months later, in preference to vice-ministers with more ministeral experience can probably be explained to a large degree by his connections with Hu Yaobang. But he does have considerable experience in foreign affairs, particularly in liaison with foreign communist parties. Since becoming Foreign Minister he has accompanied Zhao Ziyang on his tour of Africa, and his visits to New Zealand, Austrialia, the United States and Canada. He has also accompanied Hu Yaobang to Japan.
In appearance Wu is a cartoon Chinese, with prominent gold teeth and large spectacles, but he is shrewd and has a polished manner. He understands English but is reluctant to use it himself.
Approximate pronunciation: Woo rhymes with too
Form of address:
Hswear rhymes with chair Chien rhymes with hen
Minister
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.