The Man Who Would Be China’s Next Foreign Minister

File image of Liu Jianchao (fourth from right), the Chinese Communist Party's top foreign policy official, during talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C. on January 12, 2024. ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP

Speculation is circling that Liu Jianchao might be China’s next foreign minister. Some expect he could be officially named in the position as early as this week during the National People’s Congress legislative session.

Liu’s appointment would likely not herald radical changes in China’s foreign policy. Still, the Western-educated, English-speaking, and affable Liu would bring to the role some vital previous diplomatic experience in the Global South.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Barry van Wyk

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
6
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors

You Might Like

What Happened to Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang?

It’s been three weeks since Qin Gang was last seen in public, sparking a wave of rumors (many emanating from Taiwan) that the Chinese Foreign Minister has been benched for allegedly having an affair ...

China’s Newest Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Makes Her Debut

China’s Foreign Ministry’s spokespeople have the tricky job of being the human faces of a frequently opaque system. So China nerds were a-Twitter this week following the debut of Mao Ning, the Ministry’s newest representative.   ...

China’s Wolf Warrior Defanged

China’s most prominent Wolf Warrior diplomat, Zhao Lijian, has been moved from his previous position as Foreign Ministry spokesperson to a new post as Deputy Director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs. ...

Kenya’s Ambassador to China Leaves Unexpectedly

Kenya’s outgoing ambassador to China, Mary Muthoni, is leaving her post after only ten months on the job, far less than her predecessor, who spent three years in Beijing. The Ministry of Foreign ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP
Detected IP: 216.73.216.50