German envoy to China dies suddenly, two weeks after taking up job

Gulf Today Report

Germany's ambassador to China has died suddenly, some two weeks after taking on the job, officials have confirmed.

Jan Hecker's exact cause and time of death remain unclear.

"It is with deep sadness and dismay that we learned of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China," Germany's Federal Foreign Office said on its website when confirming the death.

The 54-year-old, a foreign policy adviser to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, presented his credentials at China's foreign ministry on Aug.24, Beijing said.

An embassy spokesperson declined further comment.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin offered condolences when asked about Hecker's death during a regular media briefing. "We are shocked to learn about the sudden death of Ambassador Hecker, who had been working actively to promote China-Germany relations since assuming his post," he said.

China would provide assistance to Hecker's family and the embassy, he added, according to the Independent.

Hecker had appeared "happy and all right" when he hosted an event about German artist Joseph Beuys at his Beijing home last Friday, a guest at the event said.

The deceased's family remains in Beijing.

He is survived by his wife, who also works in the embassy, and their three children.

Before entering politics, Hecker worked as a federal judge.