Foreign Minister Wang Yi presides over a foreign policy press conference on the morning of the 7th.
The appointment process for Liu Jianchao, the likely successor, does not seem to have progressed yet.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, appears at a press conference explaining foreign policy at China’s two sessions (National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference).
China’s National People’s Congress (National People’s Congress) Media Center announced on the 6th that Director Wang will answer questions related to ‘China’s foreign policy and external relations’ to domestic and foreign reporters at a press conference at 10 a.m. on the 7th.
During the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress, which opened on the 4th and 5th, respectively, key ministerial officials are holding press conferences to explain pending issues such as the economy, diplomacy, and people’s livelihood.
Director Wang’s appearance at this foreign affairs press conference appears to mean that the process of appointing a successor has not yet been completed.
Recently, predictions were raised that there is a high possibility that Liu Jianchao, head of the External Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, will be selected as Director Wang’s successor. Accordingly, there was speculation that a new manager might be appointed during this two-session period.
Director Wang, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the past 10 years and was promoted to Director of the Communist Party’s Central Foreign Affairs Office, is serving concurrently again after former Foreign Minister Qin Kang was dismissed in July of last year.
Director Wang, who is 70 years old this year, broke the tradition of ’67-year-olds remain and 68-year-olds retire’ when changing leadership, and was promoted to a member of the Politburo in 2022, reflecting President Xi Jinping’s trust. However, as there are many interpretations that the appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which is a lower rank than the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, is a temporary measure, many predict that Director Ryu will be appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs in the near future.
With Director Wang presiding over this conference, speculation is also being raised that the appointment of a new Foreign Minister may take place beyond the two sessions.
At the 8th meeting of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee held at the end of last month ahead of the two sessions, no mention was made of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs during the process of deciding on the appointment and dismissal of the standing committee representative qualifications. Director Dong Jun, the successor to former Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who was replaced last year, was appointed at the Standing Committee meeting in December last year.
However, as the two sessions will end on the 11th, there is a possibility that a replacement will be decided within the two sessions.
Meanwhile, the prevailing view is that if Minister Ryu becomes the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, the ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ represented by former Minister Qin Gang will come to an end.
[베이징=뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.