(1914.7.13-1991.2.18) Previously used names: Zhang Hongdao, Zhang Zhenfu. Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic ofChina(1978.1-1982.10)

A native ofSanmenCounty,ZhejjiangProvince, born inBeijing, Zhang Wenjin went toGermanyto study in autumn 1927. In January 1929, he joined the German Communist Youth League and the Chinese Language Group of the German Communist Party. At the end of 1931, he returned toChinato join in the movement of resistance against the Japanese aggression for the national survival ofChina.In 1935, he was admitted toQinghuaUniversityfor outstanding academic performance. During the War against Resistance of Japanese Aggression, he was engaged with the underground work of the Communist Party in the general ambulance troop of the Red Cross Society of China. In 1943, he obtained bachelor degree of technologies fromQinghuaUniversity. At the end of 1944, he was transferred to theChongqingoffice of the 18thArmy Group, serving as member of the group of foreign affairs. Later, he served as Deputy Chief of the group of foreign affairs of theNanjingdelegation of the CPC, and concurrently, interpreter to Zhou Enlai and Deputy Director of Edition and Translation Division of the Group of Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of CPC. At the beginning of 1949, whenTianjinwas liberated, he served in the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Tianjin Municipal Government of the People. In 1954, he was transferred to Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join the Chinese delegation to Geneva Conference, serving as secretary and concurrently chief of the group of translation and interpretation. From September 1954 to July 1966, when he served as Director General in the Second Department of Asian Affairs, Department of Asian Affairs, and the First Department of Asian Affairs in turn, he participated in the work of boundary negotiations, and boundary surveys and determinations between China and Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, and served as Chief Representative of the Chinese side in the first round of Sino-Indian meeting of governmental officials on the boundary questions. He was Ambassador toPakistanfrom August 1966 to February 1967. From October 1969 to January 1971, he was member of the Chinese delegation in the boundary negotiations betweenChinaand theSoviet Union. From January 1971 to May 1972, he was Director General of the Department of American and European Affairs. From May 1972 to September 1973, when he was Assistant Foreign Minister and concurrently Director General of the Department of American and European Affairs, he participated in the important work in the course of the normalization of diplomatic relations betweenChinaand theUS. From September 1973 to December 1976, he was Ambassador toCanada. During his tenure of vice-foreign minister, he paid visits toSpainandPortugalin February 1980 and attended, as head of delegation, the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament held inGeneva. In March of the year, he paid a working visit to theUS. In March 1981, he attended the 37thsession of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, leading the Chinese delegation; In April of the year, he paid visits to Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico; In September of the year, as head of the Chinese government delegation, he attended the 36thSession of the UN General Assembly; In October, he signed the Sino-Malta Joint Communiqué in his visit to the latter. In August 1982, he attended the second Session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as head of the Chinese delegation. From March 1983 to April 1985, he was Ambassador to theUS. Starting from 1986, he was engaged in people-to-people diplomacy as President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.He was member of the Standing Committee of the 7thNational People's Congress and Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Standing Committee of National People's Congress.