New FM spokesperson makes debut

A former spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the US held his first press conference as the foreign ministry’s 30th spokesperson on Monday.

“I am glad to meet reporters from home and abroad and looking forward to working with my colleagues and reporters to discuss China’s diplomatic policies and stance in a timely, accurate, comprehensive and objective fashion,” Geng Shuang said in brief remarks at Monday’s press conference.

Geng said he hopes to “boost mutual understanding and trust between China and other countries.”

Geng was introduced to the reporters by Lu Kang, directorgeneral of the ministry’s Information Department. Lu said Geng has served diplomatic missions for more than 20 years and has worked for the ministry’s international department, the department of international economic affairs and the Chinese diplomatic mission to the UN.

Geng served as a counselor with the Chinese Embassy in the US from 2011 to 2015. From 2015 to 2016, Geng served as deputy director general in the ministry’s international economic affairs department, according to Geng’s curriculum vitae on the ministry’s website.

This is the latest change in the ministry after Hong Lei, who served as ministry’s spokesperson from 2010 to 2016, was appointed Chinese consul general in Chicago in July.