German Ambassador to China Jan Hecker has died suddenly less than two weeks after taking up the job in Beijing.
The death of the 54-year-old boy was confirmed on Monday by the German Foreign Ministry.
Hecker, who was a foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, began his post on August 24th.
Hecker had arrived in Beijing on August 1 with his wife and three children, according to German media Deutsche Welle.
Details of his death have not yet been released.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said there were no indications that Hacker’s death was related to his diplomatic role.
“I am deeply shaken by the death of Jan Hecker,” Merkel said in a statement Monday. “I am sorry for a long-time adviser who is highly valued and has a deep humanity and outstanding experience.
“I am grateful for our work together and I am happy to have been so attached to him for years. My deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, children and other loved ones in their immeasurable pain. “
Hecker had been Merkel’s foreign policy adviser since 2017 and then served as director of the Department of Foreign Policy, Security and Development Policy.
He was the 14th German ambassador to China.
After his death, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin offered his condolences when asked about the death.
“We are surprised to learn of the sudden death of Ambassador Hecker, who since his occupation had been actively working to promote China-Germany relations,” he said.
With publishing cables