China promotes Foreign Minister Wang Yi to state councillor, General Wei Fenghe named defence minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has been promoted to a state councillor, a move elevating his status in the nation’s decision-making structure.
Wang will keep his foreign minister title in a list of government appointments endorsed by the National People’s Congress on Monday morning.
The existing foreign affairs structure has been blamed for being ineffective as the official standing of the nation’s diplomats is often not senior enough in the decision-making process.
As a state councillor, Wang will be more senior than government ministers.
Wang, who has been foreign minister since 2013, is known for his staunch defence of China’s position in world affairs.
He also warned Washington not to get involved in China’s disputes with other nations over the South China Sea. Beijing, Taiwan and its Southeast Asian neighbours claim sovereignty over parts of the contested waters.
In October, Wang Yi’s predecessor Yang Jiechi was named a member of the Communist Party’s powerful Politburo.