Ambassador Zhou previously served in Washington as deputy chief of mission of the Chinese Embassy in Washington (1995-98) and on a prior occasion as attaché and then third secretary (1978-83). In addition, he was China’s vice minister of foreign affairs (2003-05) and assistant foreign affairs minister (2001-03), as well as ambassador to Australia (1998-2001) and to Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda (1990-93). Ambassador Zhou also served as consul general of China in Los Angeles (1994-95), deputy consul general in San Francisco (1987-90), deputy director-general of the North American and Oceanic Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1993-94), as well as second secretary, deputy division director, and division director of the Department of Translation and Interpretation at the Ministry (1983-87).

Ambassador Zhou studied at Bath University and the London School of Economics. He is married with one daughter.