(1915.10.3-1984.6.5) Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic ofChina(1972.5-1982.4)

Born inHuangxian,Shandongprovince, Zhong Xidong joined the Party in 1937. He served as army leader for a long time. In October 1945, as Political Commissar of the Yantai Station Troops of the CPC, he negotiated with the American army and forced the American fleet to leave Yantai. In 1955, the military rank of Major General was conferred on him. After joining Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served as Ambassador toCzechoslovakia(1961.7-1969.5) and Ambassador toTanzania(1969.6-1972.3). During the period, he attended the National Day Celebration of Guinea as member of the Chinese government delegation, and negotiated withRwandaon the establishment of diplomatic relations on behalf ofChina. During his tenure of vice-foreign minister, he had talks in the capacity of head of the Chinese government delegation in September 1978 on the issues of Vietnamese Chinese nationals with the Vietnamese government. In April 1979, he gave press release to journalists home and abroad to introduce the eight principles for dealing with the Sino-Vietnamese relations proposed by the Chinese government delegation at the Sino-Vietnamese negotiations at the level of vice-foreign minister. In June 1984, he was appointed Chairman of theChina-Africa Association of Friendship.