eing a diplomat requires a lot, especially in conflict zones,” said Yuan Quan, an alumnus of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), worked as a diplomat in the Middle East for nearly 15 years.

Resolved to be a diplomat, Yuan not only studied Arabic in SISU but also delved extensively into the histories, geographies, politics and cultures of the Middle East region.

Because of his outstanding abilities and solid foundation, Yuan was selected to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in 2009. Yuan's first overseas job was at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Syrian Arab Republic.

However, Yuan soon realized that being a diplomat in the Middle East requires more than knowledge and thus he chose to become stronger both physically and mentally.

At that time, Syria was plagued by war and resource scarcity. Yuan persisted in going out to procure supplies, even when there were only four people at the embassy at least. This was because he took supplies as his own responsibility.

He always suffered hunger and tiredness due to the lack of nutrition. It was then that Yuan decided to strengthen his body to support his daily work.

One time, Yuan, only accompanied by two aides, moved a ton of supplies into the vehicle quickly because of the urgent situation of war. After that he found himself so tired that his shirt was soaking wet and arms unable to hold a bottle of water.

In case of being unprepared when facing such emergency, Yuan adhered to a disciplined exercise routine and cultivated healthy lifestyle habits. “Exercise can strengthen my body and determination to perform better in my daily work," he said.

A strong body was far from enough. Throughout his diplomatic career, Yuan encountered fear, sadness and homesickness. He needed to learn how to dispel negative states of mind.

During the second half of 2012, armed conflicts around Yuan’s working area grew fiercer. At that time, Yuan was undertaking the task of airport receptions and send-offs for important leaders. The 30-minute drive to the airport road was dangerous. “Of course I was afraid, but fear is useless. Before each task, I came up with some plans in advance to avoid sudden dangers,” Yuan said.

Yuan considered maintaining calmness as a way to overcome fear. The most thrilling encounter was once he couldn't immediately determine if a truck full of armed personnel drove alongside him on his way to airport were opposition forces or not. He managed to remain calm and chose to slowing down like the local residents, keeping a low profile. Luckily, he made the right choice and averted the danger.

“Yuan is always a kind person, smiling at everyone,” said Li Gang, a classmate of Yuan in SISU. However, such a kind heart might lead to more sadness when witnessing the sorrow of conflict areas.

In early May 2023, Yuan Quan, as the Director of the Bilateral Section of the Office of the People’s Republic of China to the State of Palestine, was asked to accompany his Director, Zeng Jixin, to Jericho to participate in a diplomatic tour organized by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At that time, their way out of Jericho was difficult due to the blockade that Israel had on Jericho. They were stuck on the road less than 500 meters away from the checkpoint for a full two hours.

During the way out, the sight of barbed wire, high walls, and a watchtower shocked Yuan, with Israeli soldiers pointing their guns at each passing vehicle.

“The long-standing plight of the Palestinian people was a true portrayal of occupation, filled with humiliation and cruelty,” he said, “Looking through materials and conducting research is not enough for gaining a deep insight of the hardships and conflicts in Palestine. These miserable sights make me cherish peace more, knowing that guarding peace is not easy.”

His outstanding performance was particularly evident during the state visit of Palestinian President Abbas to China in June 2023, showcasing his skills in diplomatic services.

As a key participant in the preparation for the state visit, Yuan felt immensely honored. He mentioned that Director Zeng often encouraged everyone by highlighting the significance of the Palestinian issue as the core of the Middle East problem. However, the number of personnel was too small to finish all the task.

Taking on such a significant task for the first time presented Yuan with the greatest challenge in ensuring the success of this state visit.

“We wrote tens of thousands of documents and coordinated comprehensive efforts with over 20 local departments. We ultimately completing the service guarantee with high quality. "

Throughout his three years in Palestine, he had no vacation. He expressed his miss to family. Luckily a letter reporting his safety could carry his deep longing and ease his sorrow.