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China names former South Africa envoy Chen Xiaodong as new foreign vice-minister
- Chen returned to Beijing this week after three years in the African nation he called his ‘second home’
- The 58-year-old is also a former ambassador to Singapore and served as assistant foreign minister
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China’s former top envoy to South Africa and Singapore Chen Xiaodong has been named as a foreign vice-minister, as Beijing continues to reshuffle its diplomatic team while external challenges mount.
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The appointment of Chen – who just returned to Beijing this week after a three-year stint in the African nation – was announced on Thursday.
It comes as Beijing is trying to shore up ties with neighbouring countries and other emerging economies amid a geopolitical and ideological feud with the US-led West.
During a farewell meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week, Chen hailed the “bond of camaraderie plus brotherhood” between the two countries, claiming that bilateral ties had entered a “golden era” under his watch after President Xi Jinping’s state visit last year.
Xi also attended the Brics summit during his visit to South Africa – one of the Chinese leader’s four trips abroad last year and seen as a highlight of Chen’s time as ambassador.
At a time when China’s ties with Russia are under intense scrutiny following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and relations with India have faltered over border disputes and geopolitical jostling, Xi said China’s ties with South Africa would inject greater stability into a “turbulent world”.
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Chen, 58, joined the foreign service in 1987 after graduating with a major in Arabic from Beijing International Studies University, the alma mater of China’s top diplomat Wang Yi.
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