On April 9, 2020, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries National Council held its Executive Council conference to pass a decision that Lin Songtian, former ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa, succeeds Mdme Li Xiaolin as member of the Executive Council and president of the Association.

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Lin Songtian, male, born in Fujian Province, May 1960. University graduate.

1986-1989 Staff member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

1989-1990 Attaché, Commercial Representation of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1990-1993 Attaché and Third Secretary, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1993-1999 Third Secretary, Deputy Director and Director, Department of Personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

1999-2002 Counselor, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Zambia

2002-2003 Senior Counselor at Deputy Director General Level, Department of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

2003-2007 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia

2007-2008 Deputy Director General, Department of Personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

2008-2010 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Malawi

2010-2014 Director General, Department of Foreign Affairs Management, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

2014-2017 Director General, Department of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

2017-2020 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa（deputy ministerial level）

2020- President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries