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.
Liu Jianchao | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
刘建超 | |||||||||
.jpg) Liu in 2023 | |||||||||
| Head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party | |||||||||
| Assumed office 2 June 2022 | |||||||||
| General Secretary | Xi Jinping | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Song Tao | ||||||||
| Director of Zhejiang Provincial Supervision Commission | |||||||||
| In office July 2017 – May 2018 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Ren Zemin | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ren Zhenhe | ||||||||
| Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection | |||||||||
| In office April 2017 – May 2018 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Ren Zemin | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ren Zhenhe | ||||||||
| Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | |||||||||
| In office January 2015 – April 2015 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Qin Gang | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lu Kang | ||||||||
| In office March 2006 – January 2009 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Kong Quan | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ma Zhaoxu | ||||||||
| Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia | |||||||||
| In office January 2012 – February 2014 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Zhang Qiyue | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Xie Feng | ||||||||
| Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines | |||||||||
| In office March 2009 – January 2012 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Song Tao | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ma Keqing | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | February 23, 1964 Dehui, Jilin, China | ||||||||
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party | ||||||||
| Alma mater | Beijing Foreign Studies University University of Oxford | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 刘建超 | ||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 劉建超 | ||||||||
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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
editLiu 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
editForeign Ministry
editIn 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 in 2007, when asked to comment on China's anti-satellite missile test he stated, "There's no need to feel threatened about this" and argued that "China will not participate in any kind of arms race in outer space."[2] When 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".[3] In December 2008, he said that the government had a right to censor Web sites that violated the country's laws.[4]
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."[5] 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.[6][7]
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.[8] 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."[9]
Liu was subsequently appointed as the ambassador to the Philippines.[10][11] He presented his letter of credence in March 2009.[12] Liu was later appointed as Chinese ambassador to Indonesia.[13][14] 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
editIn 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.[15] 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.[16]
In April 2017, Liu was named a member of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the head of the provincial discipline inspection commission.[17] Liu was a member of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Central Foreign Affairs Commission
editIn April 2018, Liu was returned to the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, and named deputy director in September.[18]
Head of the International Department
editIn June 2022, Liu was appointed head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, succeeding Song Tao.[19] Compared to his predecessor, Liu has taken a more active diplomatic role, including by visiting more countries outside Asia.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "China says space programme is no threat". Agence France Presse. 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Télézapping : Les JO censurés - Vidéo Dailymotion". Dailymotion. July 30, 2008.
- ^ "After brief Olympic thaw, China steps up Web censorship". International Herald Tribune. 2008-12-16. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ "New head of information department in China's Foreign Ministry". People's Daily. 2009-01-16. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ "Sole-searching in China after shoe attack on Bush". Reuters. 2008-12-16. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ "Spokesman on alert for more than questions". China Daily. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Liu Jianchao appointed Ambassador to Philippines". Xinhua. 2009-03-06. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ "President Hu appoints new ambassadors". China.org.cn. 2009-04-10. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ "Ambassador Liu Jianchao Presents His Letter of Credence to H.E. President Arroyo". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China. 2009-03-12. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ "Xi arrives in Jakarta for state visit". chinadaily.com. 2 October 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ 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). Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ a b Shi, Jiangtao (1 January 2024). "Communist Party diplomat Liu Jianchao steps up role in China's foreign policy drive". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Wei, Lingling; Hutzler, Charles (24 January 2024). "He Hunted Corrupt Chinese Officials. Now He's Set to Be Foreign Minister". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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). Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2022.