Summary:

On March 28^th, China’s State Council announced the appointment of Mr Tian Xuejun as Vice Minister of Education. He replaces the former Vice Minister Hao Ping. His responsibilities include policies and regulations, sports, health and art education, and international education cooperation and exchange. 

In contrast to his peers in the Ministry of Education, Tian Xuejun (55) has joined the Ministry from a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after returning from his mission as China’s Ambassador to South Africa. According to related reports, in his tenure in South Africa, Mr Tian has been promoting Chinese teaching and contributed to the introduction of Chinese as a second language in the national education system of South Africa. This has been taken as a highlight of bilateral education cooperation.

Mr Tian was born in Shandong and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. More details could be seen below.

Sources:

1. Vice Minister Tian Xuejun’s CV (Chinese): http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_zzjg/moe_187/jybld_txj/txjjl/201703/t20170328_301298.html

2. Announcement of appointment: http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_zzjg/moe_187/jybld_txj/txjgzfg/201703/t20170328_301295.html