Biographical Information
Zhang Shaogang currently serves as the minister counselor for economic and commercial affairs at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the United States. He started this position in July 2010 and his main responsibilities include US-China trade relations and economic cooperation.
Prior to this position, Zhang served as the minister counselor in the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations (UN) starting in October 2008, where he worked on UN development aid issues.
Before joining the UN mission, Zhang worked for China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and its predecessor, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. At the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Zhang worked on Asia-Pacific cooperation affairs and was responsible for APEC meetings. After the ministry was restructured to become MOFCOM, Zhang became deputy director general of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs. During this period, Zhang served as a chief negotiator of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. He also led trade negotiations between China and New Zealand, Singapore and Iceland.
In September 2013, Zhang will finish his current appointment and return to China. He will continue serving with MOFCOM by taking a new position as director general for the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs.
Zhang graduated from Peking University and Carnegie-Mellon University.