September 06, (THEWILL) – Germany’s ambassador to China, Â Prof. Jan Hecker, has died shortly after taking up his post, the European Nation Foreign Office confirmed on Monday.
Hecker, 54, a foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, had just taken up his post on Aug. 24, the embassy in the Chinese capital said in a posting on its social media Wechat account.
However, the Foreign Ministry did not disclose the circumstances behind the diplomat’s death.
Hecker, 54, had only taken up his new job in Beijing last month.
“It is with deep sadness and consternation that we heard of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China, Prof. Dr Jan Hecker.
“At this moment, our thoughts are with his family and the people who were close to him”, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said in a statement.
His deputy, Frank Rueckert, would take over his duties.
Germany  and European Union flags flew at half-mast on Monday at the embassy  in Beijing.
Hecker was a university lecturer before becoming a foreign policy advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of his appointment as ambassador.
A native of the northern port city of Kiel, Â Prof. Hecker trained as a lawyer and had worked as an attorney and a judge. He was married with three children.
