After Qin Gang was promoted to foreign minister and Wang Yi succeeded Yang Jiechi, who is China's State Councilor in charge of foreign affairs?

According to the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on January 16, 2023, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, had a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, foreign affairs adviser to the French President.

Wang Yi's title is member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

Before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in the press releases of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi was often identified as State Councilor and Foreign Minister.

For example, on September 24, 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release stated that "State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York."

At the Twentieth National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022, Wang Yi was elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

After October 2022, in the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi's title is "Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs". For example, on October 24, 2022, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an enlarged meeting to convey learning Carry out the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, attended and delivered a speech," the press release said.

Details such as having an age advantage and fast promotion speed highlight Qin Gang's uniqueness.

(Central News Agency)

On December 30, 2022, the 38th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress decided to remove Wang Yi from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs and appoint Qin Gang as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Since then, in the press release of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi's title is "Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, State Councilor."

For example, a message published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on December 31, 2022 showed that, “As the New Year approaches in 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov exchanged New Year’s congratulatory messages.”

From "State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs" to "Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs", Wang Yi was elected as a member of the Politburo at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. This is in line with the political practice of the CCP.

The change from "member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs" to "member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and State Councilor" is the result of Wang Yi's natural change in status after Qin Gang was promoted to foreign minister.

From "member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor" to "member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission", it shows that Wang Yi has replaced Yang Jiechi as the director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

But who is Wang Yi's successor to the position of State Councilor?

Judging from the current press release of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi no longer has the title of State Councilor, and Qin has just been promoted to Foreign Minister, and the title does not have the word State Councilor.

Yang Jiechi ceased to serve as a state councilor after being promoted to head of the Central Foreign Affairs Office in 2018.

As a member of the Politburo, Wang Yi has replaced Yang Jiechi as director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Committee according to the usual practice, and he should not continue to serve as State Councilor.

It is worth noting that Wang Yi served as foreign minister for five years from 2013 to 2018 before starting as state councilor in 2018; Yang Jiechi served as state councilor for six years from 2007 to 2013 before becoming state councilor in 2013 foreign minister.

Will Qin Gang be promoted to State Councilor shortly after being promoted to Foreign Minister?

Will there be other high-ranking officials other than Qin Gang parachuted to serve as the State Councilor in charge of foreign affairs?

These are worth keeping an eye on.

Expert: Qin Gang's appointment as foreign minister and Wang Yi's management of the CPC Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Office show that the United States is still the focus of foreign affairs