What’s new: China will announce the appointment of a new ambassador to the United States at the proper time, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday without giving a clear indication.
“Relevant information will be released in due course,” said Zhao Lijian at a regular press briefing in response to questions on whether China’s Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang was named the top envoy to Washington.
Media reported Tuesday that Qin has headed to Washington to fill the post of China’s ambassador, one day after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman wrapped up a two-day visit to Tianjin in northern China.
Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the U.S. for eight years, confirmed his departure in June at age 68.
The background: Qin, 55, is a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in China-Europe relations. He previously worked at the Foreign Ministry’s now-defunct Department of West European Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the U.K.
Qin was also Foreign Ministry spokesman twice between 2005 and 2014. He was promoted to vice minister of foreign affairs in 2018 as the youngest of the sitting vice ministers.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
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