The new Chinese foreign minister, until now that country’s ambassador in Washington, Qin Gang, told the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, that he hopes to “promote an improvement in relations” between the two states, it was announced Monday in the market.
In a telephone conversation held this Sunday, Qin Gang said goodbye to Blinken as Chinese ambassador and recalled the various meetings he had with the head of diplomacy of the United States of America (USA) during his stay in Washington, which he described as ” sincere”. , insightful and constructive,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a note posted on its website.
In the same briefing note, the new Chinese Foreign Minister (MFA) expressed the desire to “maintain a close relationship” with Blinken in his future role.
Qin, 56, was appointed foreign minister on Saturday by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the body equivalent to parliament.
During the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC, the executive body of government), held last October, Qin became part of the Central Committee, the group of about 200 members (plus about 170 alternates) that leads the party.
Qin took office as ambassador to Washington in 2021, at a time when relations between China and the United States were deteriorating after then-US President Donald Trump launched a trade war with the Asian country in 2018, which later escalated. to areas such as technology and diplomacy. .
The new minister, who will replace Wang Yi in office, was in the past a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even distanced himself from Beijing’s official line, when, for example, he allayed fears of a potential war with Taiwan. when he admitted that the Chinese government could have done more to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine.
Source: TSF
