The 57-year-old president-elect attended PKU in 1977, and received his bachelor's degree in philosophy of political economy in 1982. Between 1985 and 1991, he continued to pursue his master’s and doctor’s degree in international law at PKU under the guidance of Professor Zhao Baoxu, a renowned political scientist in China.

After graduation, Mulatu moved back to Ethiopia and assumed the post of a counselor in the Foreign Ministry. In the mid-1990s, he was deputy Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation, and he was appointed as Minister of Agriculture in 2001. Then Mulatu held the position as speaker of the House of Federation from 2002 to 2005.

Mulatu was the Ethiopian Ambassador to Turkey until his appointment, and he has also served as the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Australia, Japan and China. During his service in China, Mulatu made tremendous contributions to the consolidation and development of the bilateral tie between China and Ethiopia.

As an outstanding alumnus, Mulatu always shows concern for his alma mater. In 2003, he paid a visit to PKU where he had a cordial talk with the administrators and faculties, and offered valuable advice for the University’s development. On the celebration ceremony of the 60th anniversary for China to open her door to international students at the year of 2009, he delivered a speech on behalf of the international alumni.

PKU, among the first to enroll international students, always attaches great importance to the education of overseas students. For more than six decades, she has been devoted to cultivating international students into talents who are “PKU-esque” with a good understanding of China and a broad horizon. The university has trained scores of remarkable international students in various fields, many of whom have served as ambassadors to China, actively promoting bilateral cooperation and enhancing mutual trust.