File photo of Wu Jianmin [Photo: weibo.com]

WUHAN, June 18--  Wu Jianmin, former Chinese ambassador to France, died in a car accident early Saturday morning in Wuhan, capital of the central province of Hubei, according to the Foreign Ministry.

A press release from the ministry's spokesperson office said Wu was traveling to Wuhan University to give a lecture, and the cause of the accident is still the subject of investigation.

The city's public security bureau said Wu was on his way in to the city from the airport when the accident happened around 4 a.m..

Wu, 77, used to be president of China Foreign Affairs University from 2003 to 2008, and was elected president of the Bureau of International Expositions in 2003.