German Ambassador To China Dies While New To Office: Chancellor Angela Merkel Mourns, Beijing Promises To Help

Illustration of German and European Union flags flying at half mast. (Twitter/@HeikoMaas)

JAKARTA - Germany's newly appointed ambassador to China, Jan Hecker, has died, the country's foreign office announced in a statement.

"It is with deep sadness and concern that we hear of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China, Prof. Dr. Jan Hecker, which was experienced," the German Federal Foreign Office said Monday, citing Euronews Monday, September 6.

"At this time, our thoughts are with his family and those close to him," the statement continued

However, the statement did not provide further information about where or how Hecker, 54, died.

According to his biography on their website, Hecker is married with three children. He was appointed German Ambassador to China in August.

Hecker previously worked as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy coordinator from 2015 to 2017. Later, he served as the German Chancellor's foreign policy adviser.

Long before that, Hecker worked as a lawyer and judge, as well as a career in the interior ministry.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the death of Hecker, who worked with her for a long time, had shaken her.

"I am saddened by a very honorable longtime adviser of profound humanity and extraordinary expertise," Chancellor Markel said.

"I think of our cooperation with gratitude and I am delighted to have been in close contact with him over the years. My deepest condolences go out to his wife, children and loved ones for their immeasurable suffering," said Chancellor Merkel in a statement. a statement.

Separately, China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin offered his condolences over Hecker's death, in a daily regular media briefing.

"We are shocked to learn about the sudden death of Ambassador Hecker, who has worked actively to promote Sino-German relations since taking office," he said.

"China will provide assistance to the Hecker family and the embassy," Wang Wenbin said. Meanwhile, German and European Union flags flew at half mast on Monday at the German Embassy in Beijing.

Hecker seemed happy and well when he hosted a show about German artist Joseph Beuys at his Beijing home last Friday, a guest at the event said.

To note, Hecker arrived in China on August 1, the embassy said, and like all arrivals will be required to spend time in quarantine. He submitted his credentials to the Chinese government on August 24.