Liu_Jianchao

Liu Jianchao

Liu Jianchao

Chinese diplomat and politician

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Liu Jianchao (Chinese: 刘建超; born February 23, 1964) is a Chinese diplomat and politician who is the current head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, in office since June 2022.

Quick Facts Head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, General Secretary ...

Liu was formerly the chief spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the former director-general of its Information Department. Liu has served as Chinese ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia.

Early life and career

Liu was born in Dehui, Jilin. He studied International Relations at Oxford University from 1986 to 1987 and then began work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its Translation Office. He went on to hold various positions in departments and embassies, including the first secretary of the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom from 1995 to 1998, counselor at the Information Department from 1998 to 2000, and deputy director-general of the Information Department from 2001 to 2006. He was also seconded to Liaoning Province as the deputy party secretary of Xingcheng from 2000 to 2001.[1]

Political career

Foreign Ministry

In March 2006 it was announced that he would be replacing Kong Quan as the director-general of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the chief spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1]

During his tenure as chief spokesman for the ministry, Liu took questions on a wide variety of issues to do with China's relations with the world. For instance, interviewed about the 2008 Summer Olympics and access to the Internet from inside China, he once recognized that "some websites are difficult to access from China".[2] In December 2008, he said that the government had a right to censor Web sites that violated the country's laws.[3]

China's official Xinhua News Agency commented that "Liu was known for his sedate and humorous style in briefing reporters on China's foreign affairs."[4] An example of this was his response on the shoe-throwing incident against US President Bush, where he said that the incident had given him "pause for thought" and that he would henceforth watch out for journalists taking off their shoes.[5][6]

In January 2009, Liu was replaced as the director-general of the Information Department as well as the head spokesperson of the ministry by Ma Zhaoxu.[7] At his farewell reception attended by ministry officials and journalists, Liu expressed his pleasure and gratitude at being able to participate in the Information Department's work in a period of complex and rapid changes for both China and the world. "The world is concerned about China; China also needs to understand the world. Strengthening mutual understanding and communication between China and the world is a beneficial thing."[8]

Liu was subsequently appointed as the ambassador to the Philippines.[9][10] He presented his letter of credence in March 2009.[11] Liu was later appointed as Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.[12][13] He presented his letter of credence to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 9 March 2012. In 2013, he was appointed to become an assistant minister of foreign affairs. In January 2015, he briefly returned as head of the Information Department, serving there until April 2015.

Commission for Discipline Inspection

In September 2015, he was promoted to become the head of the International Cooperation Agency of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, making him the top official in charge of anti-corruption effort outside mainland China.[14] During this time, he was a key figure in Operation Fox Hunt, a Chinese government mission whose purported aim is anti-corruption efforts outside of China.[15]

In April 2017, Liu was named a member of the Zhejiang provincial party standing committee and the head of the provincial discipline inspection commission.[16] Liu was a member of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Central Foreign Affairs Commission

In April 2018, Liu was returned to the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, and named deputy director in September.[17]

Head of the International Department

In June 2022, Liu was appointed head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, succeeding Song Tao.[18] Compared to his predecessor, Liu has taken a more active diplomatic role, including by visiting more countries outside Asia.[14]

References

  1. [1]
    "Press conference by Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Qin Gang" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2006-03-21. Archived from the original on 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  2. [2]
    "Télézapping : Les JO censurés - Vidéo Dailymotion". Dailymotion. July 30, 2008.
  3. [3]
    "After brief Olympic thaw, China steps up Web censorship". International Herald Tribune. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  4. [4]
    "New head of information department in China's Foreign Ministry". People's Daily. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  5. [5]
    "Sole-searching in China after shoe attack on Bush". Reuters. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  6. [6]
    "Spokesman on alert for more than questions". China Daily. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  7. [7]
    马朝旭接任外交部新闻司司长 [Ma Zhaoxu succeeds as director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department] (in Chinese). Xinhua. 2009-01-15. Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  8. [8]
    外交部新闻司长刘建超将离任 接任者马朝旭亮相 [Ma Zhaoxu succeeds Liu Jianchao as director of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department] (in Chinese). People's Daily. 2009-01-15. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  9. [9]
    "Liu Jianchao appointed Ambassador to Philippines". Xinhua. 2009-03-06. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  10. [10]
    "President Hu appoints new ambassadors". China.org.cn. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  11. [11]
    "Ambassador Liu Jianchao Presents His Letter of Credence to H.E. President Arroyo". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  12. [12]
    "Xi arrives in Jakarta for state visit". chinadaily.com. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  13. [13]
    Deng Yongsheng (邓永胜) (25 February 2014). 前驻印尼大使刘建超出任外交部部长助理(图/简历). chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  14. [14]
    Shi, Jiangtao (1 January 2024). "Communist Party diplomat Liu Jianchao steps up role in China's foreign policy drive". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  15. [15]
    Wei, Lingling; Hutzler, Charles (24 January 2024). "He Hunted Corrupt Chinese Officials. Now He's Set to Be Foreign Minister". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  16. [16]
    刘建超任浙江省委常委、省纪委书记 任泽民不再担任 (in Chinese (China)). CE.cn. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  17. [17]
    刘建超任中央外办副主任 (in Chinese (China)). Xinhua. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
  18. [18]
    Lin Yunshi (林韵诗) (2 June 2022). 接替67岁宋涛 58岁中央外办副主任刘建超任中联部部长. caixin.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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