The website of the Chinese Communist Party‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that Xie Feng, a former special envoy to Hong Kong, has officially taken up the post of deputy minister, with the Americas as one of his portfolios. (Photo source: Internet)
Xie Feng, the former Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, has been transferred back to Beijing to become the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hong Kong media said that Xie Feng, the new deputy foreign minister, may pave the way to replace Cui Tiankai, the ambassador to the United States.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xie Feng, a former special envoy to Hong Kong, has officially taken up the post of deputy minister, in charge of policy planning, the Americas, Oceania and Latin America, as well as translation work.
According to public information, Xie Feng, 57, worked at the Chinese Embassy in Malta in 1989, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ U.S. Department in 1993, at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. in 2000, and as a minister at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. in 2008. in October 2010, he was promoted to Director General of the U.S. Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. in June 2014, he replaced Liu Jianchao as the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia. In June 2017, he succeeded Song Zhe as the special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong.
The Central News Agency (CNA) reported that Xie Feng was recognized by the Communist Party’s top brass for his “courageous struggle” during the 2019 Hong Kong legislative amendment storm.
The report said Xie Feng is in charge of the same business as Zheng Zeguang, who previously served as the CCP’s vice foreign minister. His predecessor, Zheng Zeguang, is rumored to replace Liu Xiaoming as the CCP’s ambassador to the UK.
According to Chang’an Street News, Zheng Zeguang has stepped down as vice minister of foreign affairs.
According to Hong Kong media, Xie Feng is still a deputy minister, but he has a lot of power and responsibility after his new appointment. He is seen as the first special commissioner in Hong Kong to receive a high promotion after the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Xie Feng is expected to serve as the vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party’s Foreign Ministry, in charge of affairs related to the United States and other matters.
Previously, the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao analyzed on January 12 that Xie Feng had been involved in diplomacy with the United States for a long Time and could be one of Cui Tiankai’s successors, however, there is no precedent for a special commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong to be directly stationed in the United States, so if Xie Feng goes to the United States, he should first return to Beijing as deputy foreign minister and then go to the United States after a period of time.
It is reported that the past several Chinese ambassadors to the U.S., from Li Zhaoxing, Yang Jiechi, Zhou Wenzhong, Zhang Yesui to Cui Tiankai, were all chosen from among the deputy foreign ministers, with Cui Tiankai serving as a deputy minister for four years from 2009 to 2013 before becoming ambassador to the U.S. It remains to be seen whether Xie Feng, who has just been promoted to deputy minister, will need some time to “train” before he can replace Cui Tiankai.
The 68-year-old Ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, broke the record for the tenure of previous ambassadors to the United States and is facing adjustments due to his age.
In addition, Xu Feihong, formerly director of the Foreign Ministry’s Service Center for Institutions and Agencies Abroad, was also appointed assistant minister in charge of administrative and financial work.
Recent Comments