BEIJING: China named Wang Yi as its new foreign minister on Tuesday (Jul 25), replacing Qin Gang who has left the post after a one-month absence, state media reported.
“China’s top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister … as it convened a session on Tuesday,” state media outlet Xinhua said.
“Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister.”
The report did not give a reason for Qin’s removal but said President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to enact the decision.
Qin had been seen as a confidant of Xi and many analysts attributed his recent fast rise through the diplomatic ranks to their relationship.
Qin, 57, who became one of China’s youngest foreign ministers when he took up the post in December after a stint as envoy to the United States, had not been seen in public since Jun 25.
His ministry later said he was off work for unspecified health reasons, but the lack of detailed information fuelled a swirl of speculation.
Qin’s absence sparked a storm of speculation that he had been removed from office or was subject to an official investigation.
His duties had lately been taken on by China’s top diplomat Wang, who leads the ruling Communist Party’s foreign policy and outranks Qin in the government hierarchy.
Qin had replaced Wang as foreign minister in December last year.