Long Yongtu

Member of the Council of Advisors, Boao Forum for Asia

Mr. Long Yongtu, born in May, 1943, is the Member of the Council of Advisors, Boao Forum for Asia, Former Vice Minister and Chief Representative for Trade Negotiations, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Mr. Long graduated from the Department of English, Guizhou University in 1965. He furthered his study at the graduate school of London School of Economics from 1973 to 1974, majoring in International Economy. Since graduation, Mr. Long has been long devoted to foreign trade and international cooperation. He was member of China’s permanent mission to the United Nations, New York (1978-1980). From 1980 to 1985, he worked at the New York headquarters, United Nations Development Program and then became Deputy Representative of the organization in North Korea from 1986-1987. Mr. Long served as Vice Director of the Center for International Economic Technology Exchange from 1986 to 1991. In January, 1992, he served as head of International Division, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and took up China’s GATT negotiations. He was promoted to Assistant Minister in 1994 and Vice Minister in 1997. In Sep, 2001, China succeeded in entering WTO after 15 years of negotiation efforts. Mr. Long, Chief Representative for Trade Negotiations from Jan, 1995 till the end, was a primary contributor. He has also been the editor of the series of “Globalization, WTO and China”. In Jan, 2003, Mr. Long was elected Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia by the forum council in Tokyo.

Mr. Long is also visiting professor of various universities, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, etc. In July 2006, Mr. Long was awarded the Honorary Doctorate in Economics by the London School of Economics.

Mr. Long has won the title of “CCTV Annual Economic Figures 2003”. He received the Award of Excellence by the former United Nations Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and Leopold Medal by Belgian King Albert II, His Majesty, for his contribution as the Secretary General of Boao Forum to the regional cooperation in Asia and China-EU, China-Belgium economic and trade relations.