(1921.4.8 -) Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic of China (1982.12-1986.2)

Born in Xiyang, Shanxi Province, Yaoguang was engaged with the work of the local Party and Government before the founding of the People's Republic of China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as Director of the Section of Foreign Affairs of Hubei Province (1954). In 1955, he joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served consecutively as Deputy Director General of the Department of Western European Affairs (1955-1957), Counsellor of Political Affairs in the Chinese Embassy in Poland (1957-1962), Second Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs (1962-1969), Director General of the Department of European and American Affairs (1969-1970). He was Ambassador to Poland (1970-1971), Canada (1972-1973), Mexico (1973-1977), Egypt (1977-1980), and France and Djibouti concurrently (1980-1982). During his tenure of vice-foreign minister, he was mainly in charge of Western European affairs. In July 1983, in accordance with the agreement between China and the UK to settle the Hong Kong question through diplomatic negotiations, he began to conduct talks in the capacity of head of the Chinese delegation with Sir Percy Cradock, the UK Ambassador to China. After February 1986, he was consultant to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was member of the Standing Committee of the 7th National People's Congress and Vice Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Standing Committee, Consultant to the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People's Congress, and Member of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.