After translating Premier Wen Jiabao's press conference Sunday at the close of the annual parliament session, Zhang Lu became the hottest topic on China's Internet overnight.

Zhang Lu

Her fluent English, professional translation and smart appearance garnered her many online fans, who quickly began looking for more information about her.

Though it was her debut appearance in front of foreign media, Zhang is no stranger to political affairs. Microblogger Murong Jicheng was the first to report that Zhang graduated from the prestigious Foreign Affairs College, the training ground for Chinese diplomats, in 2000, and now serves as deputy director of the English department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' translation office. She also acts as chief interpreter for both Premier Wen and President Hu Jintao. The information was rapidly transmitted by 1,400 netizens and confirmed by Chinese media reports.

Zhang Lu

"Zhang was my senior fellow apprentice at China's Foreign Affairs College," said one Web user. "I once communicated with her and found she's gentle and elegant."

"Some lines that Premier Wen used are from ancient Chinese poems, and they are quite difficult to translate," wrote another on his blog. "But Zhang did an excellent job. I'm her big fan now."

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