China on Monday elevated the status of its current foreign minister and selected a new defence minister as the country deals with rocky relations with the United States and expands its military.
The rubber-stamp National People‘s Congress endorsed the appointment of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, 64, as state councillor, making him a ranking member of the country‘s „cabinet“.
He replaces Yang Jiechi, China‘s former top diplomat, who was tipped for a leading role in managing Beijing‘s increasingly uncertain relations with the US under President Donald Trump.