Former ambassador Wu Jianmin died in a car accident, along with university professor Zhu Xiaochi. (Photo : BBC)
Renowned Chinese diplomat Wu Jianmin died in a car accident in the province of Hubei early Saturday morning, mainland media reported.
The 77-year-old retired ambassador figured in a road accident at the south exit of Donghu Lake Tunnel in Wuhan, Hubei Province, at around 4 o'clock in the morning of June 18, China Daily wrote.
Wu's car reportedly crashed into a flower bed after going through an underpass.
Five people were in the vehicle, including Wu, his secretary, professor Zhu Xiaochi and another university member.
Wu and Zhu, who were both seated at the back of the car, suffered serious injuries and died in the hospital. The other three passengers sustained mild injuries.
The car was said to be headed to the Wuhan University where Wu was supposed to give a talk.
"We feel deep grief after hearing Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France, passed away this morning," Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, French ambassador to China, said in a statement obtained by China Daily. "We French people have lost a great friend, who knew France and made great contributions to the relationship between France and China. Please allow me on behalf of the French people to express deep condolence to the family members of Wu."
Before working as an ambassador, Wu had been an interpreter for Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Chen Yi.
A French major from the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute, Wu worked as China's ambassador to Geneva, France and the Netherlands.
He was also known as "the most influential dove" in China, having established a solid career in international relations.
"He had moral courage. He continued to speak out," Shi Yinhong, foreign relations expert at Renmin University in Beijing, was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.
The former diplomat was also highly known for his moderate approach in dealing with the West.
"Ambassador Wu was the flag-bearer as an academic and a diplomat. His words are particularly precious at the moment," said Jilin University's Sun Xingjie in the FT's report.
