Germany's man in Beijing dies suddenly

Germany's new ambassador in Beijing has died suddenly at the age 54.

The death of Jan Hecker, previously a top adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, was announced yesterday, but officials did not say when or where he died or specify a cause.

But a foreign ministry spokeswoman said "there are no indications the death is connected to ambassador Hecker's political function."

Hecker, married and with three children, arrived in Beijing on August 1 and presented his credentials on August 24.

A former interior ministry official and a judge at the Federal Administrative Court, Hecker became Merkel's foreign policy adviser in 2017.

Merkel said she mourned "an esteemed long-time adviser.'' Beijing also offered condolences.