This is a list of ambassadors appointed by the Chinese government to represent it to the Soviet and Russian governments. Since China sent its first representative to Russia in 1878 under the Qing Dynasty, the government of both countries have changed multiple times through revolution, collapse of the previous state and civil war. This list does not include representatives of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, to Russia after its official relations with the Soviet Union ended on October 2, 1949.
The current iteration of the post is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Russian Federation. Zhang Hanhui has held the post of Chinese ambassador to Russia since he presented his letter of credence to Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 5, 2020.
Envoys of the Qing Empire to the Russian Empire (1878–1912)
The Qing Empire began to send an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia in 1878.[1][2] Chonghou, the first envoy, left Russia for China without permission and was replaced by Shao Yu-lien, who was consul at the Chinese embassy in Russia.[3] On February 17, 1902, Yang Yu became the only Qing envoy to Russia to have died in office. China appointed Luo Fenglu to become its envoy on August 29, 1901, but the appointment was rejected by Russia.
Envoys of the Republic of China to the Russian Empire (1912–1918)
The Republic of China was established in 1912. The Russian Empire recognized the Republic of China on October 6, 1913, and the Lou Tseng-tsiang continued his role as the envoy to Russia for the new republic. After the October Revolution, China's mission to Russia was withdrawn in February 1918, and diplomatic relations were halted.
Representative of the Republic of China to the Soviet Union (1923–1949)
Under the Beiyang government, China established a representative office in the Soviet Union in October 1923. On May 31, 1924, diplomatic relations were restored.
The Beiyang government collapsed in 1928 after the Northern Expedition and replaced by the Nationalist government in Nanjing. The Soviet Union broke ties with China on July 23, 1929 and relations were not restored until December 12, 1932.
The Chinese foreign ministry declared recognized the Russian Federation on December 27, 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union two days before. Wang Jinqing, who had been Ambassador to the Soviet Union, was appointed the first Chinese ambassador to post-Soviet Russia.
^ abHummel, Arthur William, ed. (1943). Eminent Chinese Of The Ch'ing Period (1644-1912). Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office.
^"Zhu'e dashi Zhang Deguang juxing liren zhaodaihui" 驻俄大使张德广举行离任招待会 [Ambassador to Russia Zhang Deguang holds a farewell reception]. Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation (in Simplified Chinese). October 20, 2003. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.