Viorel ISTICIOAIA BUDURA is managing director and head of the Asia-Pacific Department at the European External Action Service. He is also a guest professor at Beijing University of Foreign Studies and a member of the Council of the Association of the Beijing University Alumni. Between 2002 and 2010, he was the ambassador of Romania to the People's Republic of China and Mongolia. Previously he was Romania's ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Other former positions include minister counsellor at the Embassy of Romania, London and deputy director at the UN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, as well as minister counsellor at the Embassy of Romania, Tokyo. Ambassador Isticioaia Budura holds a B.A. in philosophy and history from the University of Bucharest as well as a bachelor degree in Chinese language and literature from Nankai University, Tianjin, China.