Zhang Yan

Executive Director, ASEF,

Ambassador Zhang Yan is the 6th Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). His latest

deputation before joining ASEF was as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

People’s Republic of China to the Republic of India (2007 - October 2012).

He is a veteran diplomat, with experience spanning over 30 years, serving in many countries including

Liberia, Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, Austria and India. He has closely worked with the

United Nations dealing with the Security Council, as well as Disarmament and Arms Control.

Ambassador Zhang holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Beijing Foreign Studies University (1976). Later

he studied at Carleton University and McGill University in Canada (1976-78) and the China National

Administrative Institute (1995). He has participated in the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship

Programme (1984).

He was born in the Zhejiang Province in China and is married with a daughter.

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