Hecker had worked as a foreign policy adviser to German Chancellor Angela Merkel before taking up the post of ambassador to Beijing on 24 August.
“We are deeply saddened and surprised to learn of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China,” the German Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. “Our heart is with his family and his friends and colleagues right now.”
The circumstances of the diplomat’s death have not been revealed.
Hecker took office as the 14th German ambassador to China in late August. Prior to his appointment, he served as director of the Department of Foreign Policy, Security and Development Policy and had been Merkel’s foreign policy adviser since 2017, the embassy in Beijing reported on its official Weibo account.
“I am deeply shocked by the death of Jan Hecker,” Merkel said in a statement on Monday. “I regret the loss of a much-loved adviser of many years, with deep humanity and outstanding experience. I think of our collaboration with gratitude and am glad to have been so closely associated with him over the years. my deepest sympathy goes to his wife, children and other relatives in their immeasurable pain. “
When the role began, Hecker said his goals for the new mission were to “contribute to the stable and long-term development of German-China relations through our work” and “further strengthen dialogue and partnership.” , said the embassy.