Qin Gang,

a former spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was appointed assistant foreign minister on April 18.

Born in Tianjin in 1966, Qin graduated from the University of International Relations in 1988. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 and worked for the Department of West European Affairs and the Chinese Embassy to the UK alternately from 1992 to 2005.

He served as deputy director of the Information Department from 2005 to 2010 and director of the department from 2011 to 2014. He became director of the Protocol Department in January 2015.

As one of the four assistant foreign ministers, Qin takes charge of Latin American affairs as well as the release of information and protocol work. He will continue to serve as director of the Protocol Department, which is responsible for state protocol matters and ceremonial events.