ExclusiveChina’s chief climate negotiator who helped secure historic Paris deal moved to new role amid reshuffle

China’s chief climate negotiator Su Wei, who was key in helping secure the landmark Paris Agreement last year, has left his position amid a personnel reshuffle, sources say.

Su, known among climate diplomats around the world for being tough and direct in his negotiations, left the powerful National Development and Reform Commission’s climate change office after being appointed director of the commission’s international cooperation department, according to two sources close to the NDRC.

Su’s new appointment does not change his ranking in the official hierarchy, and his previous position is being filled by Xie Ji as acting director of the climate change department, according to the sources.

It is not immediately known who will take up Su’s role as China’s chief climate negotiator.

The departure of Su – who has been the country’s chief climate negotiator since 2005 – coincides with the international exodus of other senior climate diplomats after the Paris convention.