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Zhenhua Lu

A senior Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has been tipped by diplomatic sources to take over as head of policy towards the US and Canada as part of a generational reshuffling of officials.
The sources said Lu Kang, the director of the ministry’s information department, was expected to succeed Cong Peiwu, the current head of North America and Oceania affairs, “very soon”.
Lu told a regular press conference on Thursday he would step down as the head of the ministry’s information department without elaborating further.
The 51-year-old will face a tough challenge in the role, with issues such as trade, technology, security and geopolitics among his main areas of responsibility.




The appointment may also indicate the diplomat’s future career path, with a posting as China’s ambassador to Washington possibly in the cards.
Recent precedents for this advancement include the career trajectory of Yang Jiechi, currently the country’s highest ranking diplomat, who also led the North American and Oceania affairs department before becoming a foreign vice-minister and then Chinese ambassador to the US between 2001 and 2005.
Lu became the head of information department in April 2015 following a stint as a minister at the embassy in Washington.
While an ambassador’s average tenure is under four years, the current ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, now 66, has been asked to postpone his retirement because of Beijing’s rapidly deteriorating ties with Washington.
On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping met a number of Chinese envoys at a work conference in Beijing and urged them to carry out their duties with “great determination”, according to the foreign ministry.




Lu grabbed international media headlines late last month when he said during a press conference that the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong was void since the former British colony had been handed back to Beijing more than 20 years ago.
Chinese Foreign Ministry hits back against US report questioning Beijing’s commitment to Hong Kong rule of law
“The Sino-British Joint Declaration, as a historical document, no longer has any realistic meaning,” Lu said in response to Washington’s and London’s critical comments on Hong Kong’s political condition.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang to take over US and Canada affairs office

Lu Kang is currently head of the Chinese foreign ministry’s information department. Photo: Kyodo

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A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry commissioner’s office in Hong Kong slammed the report for ‘inappropriately commenting’ on the city’s affairs. Photo: May Tse

Former US national security adviser Susan Rice calls Chinese diplomat Zhao Lijian ‘a racist disgrace’ after Twitter tirade

Former US national security adviser Susan Rice said Chinese diplomat Zhao Lijian was “shockingly ignorant” after his comments on Twitter. Photo: AFP

=== PHOTO CAPTURED FROM WEIBO === Image of Zhao Lijian. Picture by WEIBO

China seeks to shuffle its diplomatic pack as next generation comes to the fore

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun speaks at a press conference in Beijing on July 13, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Canada’s foreign minister rips ex-ambassador to China for ‘advising’ Beijing on election

Canada’s foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, criticised sacked former ambassador to China John McCallum for telling Beijing its policies would benefit Justin Trudeau’s hardline rivals in the upcoming Canadian election. Photo: Reuters

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News

China

Diplomacy


Diplomat made headlines when he said the Hong Kong handover deal with Britain was now void
His new job as head of North America and Oceania office may pave the way for a future posting to Washington as an ambassador



Official who made headlines when he said the Hong Kong handover deal with Britain was now void will take over as head of North America and Oceania office.
