The Blackstone Group has opened an office in Beijing, headed by a longtime Chinese government official.

The private equity giant yesterday introduced Shan Fu as its chief representative in the Chinese capital. Most recently vice president of Beijing Mainstreets Investment Group, Fu worked for a variety of Chinese government agencies and commissions, including the National Development and Reform Commission and State Economic and Trade Commission.

“We see tremendous opportunities both in China and to partner with Chinese companies outside of China,” Antony Leung, Blackstone chairman for Greater China, said. “The opening of our Beijing office and the appointment of Shan gives us another great resource to take advantage of those opportunities.”