Yang Wenchang, male, Han nationality, was born in 1944 in Shandong Province. He began his 30-year career in foreign affairs at the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom. This was followed by a tour at the embassy in France. From 1979 to 1993, he served in the Department of International Organizations and the Department of Personnel in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1995, Yang was named ambassador to Singapore. He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997 and became vice-minister in 1998. He is responsible for West Asian, North African, and African affairs as well as for personnel affairs.