Minister of Foreign Affairs (China) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Flag of the People's Republic of China
National Emblem of the People's Republic of China
Incumbent Wang Yi since 25 July 2023
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Member of	State Council
Reports to	Central Foreign Affairs Commission
Seat	Beijing
Nominator	Premier (chosen within the Chinese Communist Party)
Appointer	President with the confirmation of the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee
Precursor	Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China
Formation	1 October 1949; 75 years ago (1949-10-01)
First holder	Zhou Enlai
Deputy	Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and one of the country's top and most important cabinet posts. The Minister usually is also a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and a state councillor. The Minister is the second-highest ranking diplomat in China after the director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

History

The post was initially established after the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1 October 1949 as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People's Government, with Zhou Enlai being appointed as both the minister and the premier.

Process of appointment

Officially, the minister is nominated by the premier of the State Council, who is then approved by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee and appointed by the president.

List of officeholders

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			President	Premier
			Took office	Left office	Term
1		Zhou Enlai 周恩来 (1898–1976)	1 October 1949	11 February 1958	8 years, 133 days	Mao Zedong (since 1954)	Himself
2		Marshal Chen Yi 陈毅 (1901–1972)	11 February 1958	6 January 1972	13 years, 329 days	Liu Shaoqi Office vacant	Zhou Enlai
3		Ji Pengfei 姬鹏飞 (1910–2000)	6 January 1972	18 November 1973	1 year, 316 days	Office vacant
4		Qiao Guanhua 喬冠華 (1913–1983)	18 November 1973	2 December 1976	3 years, 14 days	Office vacant Office abolished	Zhou Enlai Hua Guofeng
5		Huang Hua 黄华 (1913–2010)	2 December 1976	19 November 1982	5 years, 352 days	Office abolished	Hua Guofeng Zhao Ziyang
6		Wu Xueqian 吴学谦 (1921–2008)	19 November 1982	12 April 1988	5 years, 145 days	Li Xiannian (since 1983)	Zhao Ziyang
7		Qian Qichen 钱其琛 (1928–2017)	12 April 1988	18 March 1998	9 years, 340 days	Yang Shangkun Jiang Zemin	Li Peng
8		Tang Jiaxuan 唐家璇 (born 1938)	18 March 1998	17 March 2003	4 years, 364 days	Jiang Zemin	Zhu Rongji
9		Li Zhaoxing 李肇星 (born 1940)	17 March 2003	27 April 2007	4 years, 41 days	Hu Jintao	Wen Jiabao
10		Yang Jiechi 杨洁篪 (born 1950)	27 April 2007	16 March 2013	5 years, 323 days
11		Wang Yi 王毅 (born 1953)	16 March 2013	30 December 2022	9 years, 289 days	Xi Jinping	Li Keqiang
12		Qin Gang 秦刚 (born 1966)	30 December 2022	25 July 2023	207 days
							Li Qiang
13		Wang Yi 王毅 (born 1953)	25 July 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 311 days