He Yafei, was born in 1955. He holds a postgraduate degree from Beijing Foreign Studies University, and studied at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. He served as Counselor of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, Deputy Director of the Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Minister-Counselor and Minister at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America, Director of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, MFA, Assistant Foreign Minister, Vice Foreign Minister, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, and Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.