Sha Zukang
Encyclopedia
Sha Zukang is a Chinese diplomat
who is head of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
. He was previously the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva
.
Over his 37 years of diplomatic career, his portfolios cover a wide range of fields, including security, economy, social affairs, human rights and humanitarian affairs. In recent years, he served respectively as the Chairperson of the Government Group of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, President of the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee and the Committee of the Whole of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
; Coordinator of the Like-Minded-Group of the Human Rights Council. He was also elected or appointed as President, Vice-President, Chairman, coordinator and expert in many international conferences in the field of trade, intellectual property, social affairs and telecommunications.
He previously served as Director-General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997–2001) and earlier as Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland (1995–1997). He was Counsellor and Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1992–1995); First Secretary and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, New York (1988–1992); Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director and First Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1985–1988). He currently serves as Secretary-General of Earth Summit
, a global conference on sustainable development to be held in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro
.
A graduate of Nanjing University
, Sha started his diplomatic career as a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom. He is noted for being outspoken. In a BBC
interview on August 17, 2006, he told the US to "shut up" regarding criticism on arms spending of China, noting that U.S. arms expenditure is half of the total arms expenditure of the whole world. In 2007, Foreign Policy
magazine published a satirical commentary purporting to be by Sha, the "UN Secretary for Kicking Butt," and in 2010 called Sha "China's John Bolton
" (the famously blunt U.S. ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush
). At an Austrian meeting of UN officials in September 2010, he said to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
, "I know you never liked me, Mr. Secretary-General. Well, I never liked you, either" and about Robert Orr
, an American UN official, that "I really don't like him: he's an American and I really don't like Americans." He added that he had come to respect the UN chief and praised Mr. Orr for a speech he had given.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who is head of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to the major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Second and Third Committees...
. He was previously the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
.
Over his 37 years of diplomatic career, his portfolios cover a wide range of fields, including security, economy, social affairs, human rights and humanitarian affairs. In recent years, he served respectively as the Chairperson of the Government Group of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, President of the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee and the Committee of the Whole of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
; Coordinator of the Like-Minded-Group of the Human Rights Council. He was also elected or appointed as President, Vice-President, Chairman, coordinator and expert in many international conferences in the field of trade, intellectual property, social affairs and telecommunications.
He previously served as Director-General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997–2001) and earlier as Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland (1995–1997). He was Counsellor and Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1992–1995); First Secretary and Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, New York (1988–1992); Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director and First Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1985–1988). He currently serves as Secretary-General of Earth Summit
Earth Summit
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development , also known as the Rio Summit, Rio Conference, Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 June to 14 June 1992.-Overview:...
, a global conference on sustainable development to be held in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
A graduate of Nanjing University
Nanjing University
Nanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
, Sha started his diplomatic career as a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom. He is noted for being outspoken. In a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
interview on August 17, 2006, he told the US to "shut up" regarding criticism on arms spending of China, noting that U.S. arms expenditure is half of the total arms expenditure of the whole world. In 2007, Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel.Originally, the magazine was a quarterly...
magazine published a satirical commentary purporting to be by Sha, the "UN Secretary for Kicking Butt," and in 2010 called Sha "China's John Bolton
John R. Bolton
John Robert Bolton is an American lawyer and diplomat who has served in several Republican presidential administrations. He served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2005 until December 2006 on a recess appointment...
" (the famously blunt U.S. ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
). At an Austrian meeting of UN officials in September 2010, he said to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
, "I know you never liked me, Mr. Secretary-General. Well, I never liked you, either" and about Robert Orr
Robert C. Orr
Robert Cameron Orr, Ph.D currently serves as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General...
, an American UN official, that "I really don't like him: he's an American and I really don't like Americans." He added that he had come to respect the UN chief and praised Mr. Orr for a speech he had given.
External links
- Biography of Sha Zukang (UN DESA)
- BBC interview with Sha Zukang, August 17, 2006.
- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704621204575487971566865084.html Wall Street Journal article about aftermath of outburst, September 12, 2010