China's top legislature today approved the nomination of Yang Jiechi, former ambassador to the US, as
the country's new foreign minister.
Yang, 57, will replace Li Zhaoxing, 66, who has served as
China's top diplomat since 2003.
A veteran diplomat, Yang served in the Chinese Embassy in the US
for nearly 13 years over different periods in the 1980s, 1990s, and
the beginning of this century.
Yang started his diplomatic career in 1975 in the Foreign
Ministry and was appointed vice foreign minister in 1998.
While serving as ambassador to the US from 2001 to 2005, Yang
won acclaim for his efforts to promote China-US cooperation and
exchanges in fighting terrorism, boosting trade, and mediating the
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
A fluent English speaker, Yang studied at the London School of
Economics and Political Science from 1973 to 1975.
He is also an alternate member of the 16th Central Committee of
the Communist Party of China.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) also approved the nomination of Wan Gang, president of Shanghai's Tongji
University, as minister of science and technology, replacing Xu
Guanhua.
Other personnel changes include: Xu Shaoshi replacing Sun
Wensheng as minister of land and resources, and Chen Lei
replacing Wang Shucheng as minister of water resources.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)