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China’s veteran climate envoy Xie Zhenhua steps down, as career diplomat Liu Zhenmin takes helm
- Beijing confirms 74-year-old Xie has stepped down for health reasons
- Former vice-minister of foreign affairs Liu brings extensive climate diplomacy and UN experience to the role
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Vanessa Caiin Shanghai
China has appointed former vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin as the country’s special climate envoy, replacing Xie Zhenhua who has stepped down due to health reasons.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment confirmed the transition in a statement on Friday.
The announcement came after media reports that Xie would step down in December, following the Cop28 talks in Dubai.
The 74-year-old, the country’s long-serving special climate envoy, bade farewell to his career of environmental protection and climate diplomacy on Friday, when Xie and his US counterpart John Kerry held a video meeting for the working group of the two countries.
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Officials from both sides discussed areas of cooperation, including “energy transition, methane, circular economy, low-carbon provinces/states and cities”, the ministry said.
Xie was appointed as China’s first special climate envoy in 2021, the same year Kerry was appointed as America’s special presidential envoy for climate.
A native of the city of Tianjin, Xie graduated from Tsinghua University and started his career working for various government agencies responsible for environmental affairs. He served in roles at the State Environmental Protection Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission.
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