China’s foreign minister will face questions from the media on Thursday, state media announced, as the country’s largest annual political gathering continues in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. File photo: Wikicommons.

Wang Yi, a veteran diplomat who has served as a top foreign policy official for over a decade, will be quizzed by Chinese and foreign journalists on a range of topics likely to include major geopolitical flashpoints.

Earlier this week, China announced that Premier Li Qiang would not be holding a press conference at the end of the National People’s Congress meeting, breaking a decades-long tradition.

The “Two Sessions” — parallel meetings of China’s rubber-stamp parliament and political consultative body that kicked off in Beijing earlier this week — offer a rare glimpse into the strategy of the Communist Party-led government for the year ahead.

This year’s gathering is being closely watched for signals as to Chinese leaders’ confidence in current geopolitical conditions, as tensions persist across the Taiwan Strait and Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its third year.

Qin Gang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China addresses the 52nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva, on February 28, 2023. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN.
Qin Gang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China addresses the 52nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva, on February 28, 2023. Photo: Violaine Martin/UN.

Wang replaced ex-foreign minister Qin Gang, who was abruptly removed from office last year and has not been seen in public since.

Dateline:

Beijing, China

Type of Story: News Service

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