 A graduate of Nanjing University, Sha started his diplomatic career as a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom and served in a variety of positions in the Chinese Diplomatic Service.He established the Department of Arms Control in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as its first Director-General from 1997–2001.Earlier, he served as Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland (1995–1997).