Zhang Lizhong

Zhang Lizhong (; born January 1969) is a Chinese diplomat who has served as Secretary-General of the ASEAN–China Centre since 2026. He previously served as Ambassador of China to Uganda from 2021 to 2026, Ambassador of China to the Maldives from 2017 to 2021, and Consul General of China in Kolkata from 2010 to 2013.

Biography

Zhang was born in January 1969 in Dafeng, Jiangsu, China. Zhang joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in 1991 and initially worked in its Department of Information, serving as a staff member and attaché between 1991 and 1995. From 1995 to 1998, he served at the Consulate General of China, San Francisco, first as a consular attaché and later as a vice consul with the rank of third secretary.

After returning to China in 1998, Zhang continued to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Information. Between 1998 and 2007, he successively served as a third secretary, deputy division chief, and division chief. From 2007 to 2010, he served as deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In November 2010, Zhang was appointed Consul General of China in Kolkata, a position he held until August 2013. He subsequently worked in the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From June 2015 to July 2017, he was temporarily assigned to the China National Tourism Administration, where he served as director-general of its Department of Tourism Promotion and International Cooperation.

Zhang was appointed Ambassador of China to the Maldives in August 2017 and served until April 2021. He subsequently became Ambassador of China to Uganda, serving from June 2021 to January 2026.

In July 2026, Zhang assumed office as Secretary-General of the ASEAN–China Centre, arriving at the organization's Secretariat on July 8, 2026.