After his performances in 2003 for Tianjin Teda, Zhang Shuo was called up to the senior national team and made his debut in an international friendly against Chile in a 0–0 draw. After several friendlies he was called up to the 2003 East Asian Football Championship squad where he made one appearance in a disappointing tournament for China PR. Nevertheless, Zhang Shuo would still continue to be a regular within the Chinese squad and score his first international goal in an international friendly against Lebanon on 3 July 2004 in a 6–0 thrashing. This was enough for Zhang Shuo to be included in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup squad, however he did not make any appearances in the tournament.