He previously served as the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as well as the director-general of its Information Department.

He also served as China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York City from January 2018 to July 2019.

In January 2009, he replaced Liu Jianchao as the director-general of the Information Department as well as the head spokesperson of the ministry.

[7] On 6 April 2016, he was appointed as the Permanent Representative of the China to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and other International Organizations.

[9] Ma was recalled back to China and appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on July 15, 2019.