Last Update: March 12, 2023, 13:45 IST
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has been promoted to the rank of State Councillor. (Photo Credits: Reuters)
The National People’s Congress (NPC), the Chinese parliament, which is holding its annual session, elevated him to the rank of State Councillor.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has been promoted to the rank of State Councillor, which will line him up for his possible appointment to the post of Special Representative of China for India-China boundary talks, to discuss the boundary issue. A high level mechanism and improvement in relations between the two countries.
The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s parliament, which is holding its annual session on Sunday, endorsed Qin’s appointment as foreign minister and promoted him to the rank of State Councillor, which is part of the State Council or central cabinet. There is a post of a higher position within. Executive organs of the Chinese government.
Qin, 56, was appointed as foreign minister in December succeeding Wang Yi, who was elected to the Political Bureau of China’s ruling Communist Party (CPC), the party’s key policy body in five terms . The party’s year congress in October last year.
Qin’s promotion to the post of State Counselor will put him in line for his appointment as the Special Representative (SR) of the India-China Border Mechanism set up in 2003.
Over the years, it emerged as an important occasion to discuss the state of relations between the two neighbors beset by several problems besides the border dispute and steps to improve ties.
Qin, China’s former ambassador to the US and a close confidante of President Xi Jinping, was in New Delhi earlier this month to attend the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, during which he held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Relations between China and India have almost frozen since the eastern Ladakh military standoff between the two countries in May 2020.
To resolve the deadlock, 17 rounds of high-level military commanders’ talks have taken place between the two countries.
India says that until there is peace in the border areas, its relations with China cannot be normal.
The NPC also appointed a full set of new cabinet ministers as part of a once-in-ten-year change of Chinese administration.
Li Shangfu, a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) – the high command of the Chinese military, has been appointed as Minister of National Defense, succeeding Wei Fenghe.
Yi Gang has been retained as head of the central bank in an apparent attempt by China to reassure entrepreneurs, investors and financial markets about continuity at the helm.
Zheng Shanjie has been appointed as the head of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s main planning body, and Liu Kun, the finance minister.
The NPC on Saturday endorsed the nomination of Li Qiang, a close aide of President Xi, as the new premier to replace Li Keqiang, who retired after 10 years in office.
Li Qiang, 63, said to be a pro-business politician in Xi’s inner circle, will be the number two rank official of the CPC and the government after Xi, who was confirmed on Thursday as chairman and chief of the army for an unprecedented third. was done. Tenure of five years.
Xi, 69, is the only leader since party founder Mao Zedong to have more than two five-year terms and is widely expected to remain in power for life.
read all Breaking News Here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)