Qiao Zonghuai, male, Han nationality, is a native of Chongqing. He was born in 1944, and began his career as an engineer with the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Following two years as visiting scholar at Hong Kong Chinese University, Qiao joined the Xinhua News Agency in Hong Kong in 1984 as deputy secretary general and deputy director, serving also as Chinese representative to the Sino-British Joint Liaison Panel.
From 1991 to 2001 Qiao was successively ambassador to Finland, Estonia, Democratic People