Veteran diplomat Zhou Wenzhong has taken center stage at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), following in the footsteps of his influential predecessor Long Yongtu, known for his success in negotiating China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.

A Jiangsu native, born in Chongqing in 1945, Zhou was the former ambassador to the United States, and counts fluent English among his many skills.

As the General Secretary of the BFA, Zhou hopes that the upcoming annual Asian forum, which will kick off next month, can go beyond the region and attract as many emerging economies as possible.

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