Li Shengjiao

Li Shengjiao
Native name 厉声教
Born (1935-01-07)January 7, 1935
Nanjing, China
Died August 6, 2017(2017-08-06) (aged 82)
Beijing, China
Nationality China
Alma mater

Nanjing University;

China Foreign Affairs University
Occupation Diplomat, jurist, educator
Employer Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Organization Nanjing University
Known for Contribution to China's boundary and ocean affairs
Home town Hangzhou
Title

Counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Counselor of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations;
Acting Chinese Ambassador to Barbados;
First Deputy Consul General of China in Toronto;

Honorary professor at Nanjing University
Parent(s)

Li Shengjiao (simplified Chinese: 厉声教; traditional Chinese: 厲聲教; pinyin: Lì Shēngjiào; January 7, 1935 – August 6, 2017), was a senior Chinese diplomat, jurist, educator, scholar, bilingual author, former Nanjing sports star and an expert on the I Ching. Being recognized as an authority on international law and U.S.-China relations, Li was known for his contribution to the International Law of the Sea and China's boundary and ocean affairs.[1][2][3][4]

Li died of illness on August 6, 2017 in Beijing at the age of 82.[4][5]

Life and career

Li Shengjiao was born in 1935 in Nanjing. He began his diplomatic career in 1956. In his 40-plus years as a diplomat, Li served as Counselor of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, Counselor of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations, Acting Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, First Deputy Consul General of China in Toronto and Counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, among other posts.[1][2][3][4][5]

Li was widely recognized as an authority on international law, China's boundary and ocean affairs and U.S.-China relations, serving as Counselor of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations and Special Senior Fellow at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He made a great contribution to the creation and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He was praised and received twice by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai for his contribution.[1][2][3][4][5]

An honorary professor at Nanjing University and China Foreign Affairs University, Li was a columnist for The Huffington Post, China Daily and other major publications, weighing in on international affairs, international business and U.S.-China ties.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Sports achievements

Li was an all-around sports star in his youth, excelling in soccer, basketball, the 100-meter sprint in track and field, and table tennis. As a regular member of the Nanjing municipal soccer team as well as a key player in the Nanjing University basketball team, Li represented the city of Nanjing in several national level matches during his college years at Nanjing University. He was the coach of the basketball team of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the table tennis champion of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2][11]

Legacy

Since his death, Li Shengjiao has been regarded as a competent scholarly diplomat, a knowledgeable and well-respected jurist, a brilliant all-rounder, a true patriot, and a man of integrity.[4][12]

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Wang Ying called Li "an exceptionally outstanding diplomat as well as a prominent scholar". As a diplomat, Li won honors for his country and united the people. His death is a great loss to the nation, Wang said.[4]

Li was described by Tang Wensheng, former English interpreter of Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong, as both an excellent diplomatic official and a professional expert who had a good command of the English language and solid expertise in foreign affairs.[4]

Former Chinese Ambassador to France Wu Jianmin depicted Li as "a man of decency and high professional competence, and was career-minded."[4]

Former Chinese Ambassador to Russia Wu Tao described Li's character as genuine and industrious, saying that "Li was a modest, self-disciplined gentleman, honest and diligent."[4]

According to former Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Shi Yanhua, Li's work ethic and capabilities were respectable. Shi also said that Li "was very articulate and insightful, and had a good eye for detail."[4]

Huang Huikang, an incumbent member of the International Law Commission of the United Nations, delivered his opinion about Li's contribution shortly after his death, saying that "Mr. Li contributed a lot to China's diplomatic cause as well as international law and treaty affairs. He will be remembered forever by people in the international law and treaty community all over the world."[4]

Personal

A direct descendant of the renowned Qing Dynasty poet and scholar Li E (厉鹗), Li Shengjiao is the son of Li Linsi (厉麟似), a distinguished scholar and diplomat in modern China.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About Li Shengjiao". The Huffington Post.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Li Shengjiao". ChinaFile.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Li Shengjiao". The Diplomat.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Distinguished diplomat, jurist Li Shengjiao passes away at 82". China Daily. August 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Senior Chinese diplomat Li Shengjiao dies at 82". Xinhua. August 23, 2017.
  6. ↑ More opportunities lie ahead for Chinese, Canadian businesses: Former diplomat. People's Daily.
  7. ↑ "Made in China": Charming the world?. China Central Television.
  8. ↑ Golden Sports: The Golden Journey to Blossom. Bleacher Report.
  9. ↑ Chinese Diplomat: TPP, FTAAP “Compatible; Complement Each Other”. The New American.
  10. ↑ China–US economic relations no zero-sum game. East Asia Forum.
  11. ↑ 厉声教 (in Chinese). Chinese Wikipedia.
  12. ↑ "The mourning for Li Shengjiao". China Daily. August 28, 2017.
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