XU Lin is Director General and Chief Executive of Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters.
She served as Education Counsellor of the P.R.C. Consulate General in Vancouver Canada (2000-04), President of New York Service Center for Chinese Overseas Scholars (1999–2000), Deputy Director General of Finance Department, Ministry of Education (1993-99) and Assistant Mayor of the Xuchang City, Henan Province (1992-93). From 1981 to 1992, she held various posts in the Finance Department and the Planning Department of the Ministry of Education.
She graduated from Fudan University and obtained her master’s degree in economics from Beijing Normal University. She was awarded honorary doctorates from University of Arizona, University of Edinburg, University of Western Kentucky, University of St. Thomas in Chile, and University of Babeş Bolyai in Romania.
In 2009, she was appointed by the Premier to be a Counsellor of the State Council.