Web Exclusive
August 19, 2010
Translated by Tony Liu
Original article: [Chinese]

Over five years ago, Gao Hucheng was appointed as China's very first international trade negotiation representative or 國(guó)際貿(mào)易談判代表 (guójìmàoyì tánpàn dàibiǎo), a position that put him at the center of delicate trade negotiations between China and the trade representatives of the EU and US. At that time the US and Europe were threatening to impose sanctions and tariffs on China's surging textile exports.

After trade frictions receded in 2007, the country's international trade negotiation office gradually retreated from public view and although no official announcement appeared to be made, Gao returned to his regular full-time position as one of the deputy ministers within the Ministry of Commerce.

However, in what many are viewing as a move prompted by the prospect of an increase in trade friction, on August 16, the State Council announced that the 59-year-old Gao had once again been appointed to the revived position of Iternational Tade Rpresentative.

While Gao Hucheng, a native of Shanxi province who studied French at university in Beijing during the tumultuous years of the cultural revolution, will continue to maintain his current position as vice minister of commerce, along with taking on the responsibilities of this new position, he will also enjoy the benefits of a ministerial-level salary package.

A source close to Gao Hucheng, told the EO that he is a mild-mannered and easy-going person, a man of principle who is also good at dealing with tough negotiations.

Before joining the Ministry of Commerce, Gao worked for many years at the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation and China Resources Holdings, one of China's largest trading companies.

In addition, he served as a diplomat at the Chinese embassy in the Congo after studying for 3 years at what was then called the National University of Zaire (UNAZA) in the mid to late '70s.

Gao also studied in Paris in the mid 1980s and worked within the Chinese Embassy in France in the early 1990s.

Zhang Guoqing, vice director of the Policy Research Office within the Ministry of Commerce, said that although the rehabilitation of the position of international trade representative was related to the recent rise in trade fictions, it wasn't the only factor.

He said the central government had been intending to bring back the office of trade representative for a long time.

According to the State Council, the new trade negotiation representative will take charge of important bilateral and multilateral negotiations related to trade and the economy and will also be responsible for coordinating negotiating strategy among domestic partners along with taking part in the many official ceremonies held to mark the signing of trade agreements.

This article was edited by Paul Pennay