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Wang Shihting has invited the press conference starting at 10.30 a.m. M. It is the first big appearance of the new Chinese ambassador to Switzerland. The 53-year-old career diplomat only took office in Bern last August.
Wang describes his first contact with Switzerland as follows: Almost exactly 40 years ago, when Wang was still in high school, a friend showed him a Swiss army knife. “It shone, the quality was very good, and it was beautiful,” enthused Wang in an NZZ portrait.
China’s husband in Bern since last August: Wang Shihting, 53-year-old career diplomat.
Photo: PD
At that time, Wang said, he couldn’t afford such a knife. Wang’s personal story with the pocket knife is an expression of the unprecedented economic development that China has experienced in recent decades.
A specialist in Africa
Before being transferred to Switzerland, Wang was primarily concerned with Africa as a diplomat. In Africa, China has massively expanded its investments and political influence in recent years.
Initially, Wang was stationed in South Africa, then he became deputy director of the Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Later he went to Malawi and then to Ghana as an ambassador. So now he’s the new Beijing man in Switzerland.
He studied in the USA.
Wang was born in the city of Qufu in eastern China’s Shandong Province, the birthplace of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. Wang studied history and law in China and earned a master’s degree from George Washington University in the United States.
Plain text of the predecessor
Wang’s predecessor in Bern was Ambassador Geng Wenbing. This gave this newspaper in 2019 an interview in which he was speaking plain language that was rather undiplomatic. So you can look forward to Wang’s first appearance.
