Envoy to be deputy director at UNESCO

Qu Xing, China's ambassador to Belgium, has been appointed deputy director-general of UNESCO, an official at the embassy said on Thursday. Qu becomes another Chinese who has secured a prominent position in an international organization as the country gains a greater global presence.

The appointment was made by Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, according to the official, who asked not to be named. UNESCO, based in Paris, had not commented by press time.

Qu, a scholar-turned-diplomat, was continuing his role as ambassador, the official said.

Qu was unavailable for comment, and it was unclear when he would be leaving to join UNESCO, the official said.

In a recent interview, Qu said China "is qualified" to provide international organizations with more professionals, especially because the nation is bearing an increasing share of financial responsibility within the organizations as well as participating more actively in working for global peace and development.

"The organizations are seeking more Chinese to work and the Chinese deserve a greater presence there because of China's growing contribution," Qu said in the interview. It is, however, a challenge to find enough qualified professionals to fill all the vacancies, Qu said.

Using UNESCO as an example, Qu said, "The quota and vacancies for China are there, but it is not easy to find those Chinese who have a very good command of several languages at the same time." Aside from his native Chinese, Qu speaks French and English fluently.

Chinese now working for international organizations include Li Yong, former deputy minister of finance, who has started his second term as director-general of the Vienna-based United Nations Industrial Development Organization last year, and Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a China-initiated 84-member institution created to support regional development.

Justin Yifu Lin, now a professor with Peking University, served as chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank, where he served from 2008 to 2012, and Margaret Chan was director-general of the World Health Organization from 2007 to 2017.