SPECIAL ENVOY FOR KOREAN PENINSULA ISSUE Kong Xuanyou,

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed special representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula affairs.

Kong, 58, has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 32 years. In 2015, he was appointed assistant minister of foreign affairs in charge of Asia, treaty and law, boundary and ocean affairs, and consular affairs.

Observers believe that Kong is the most suitable person to take the position of special envoy as he is very familiar with East Asian affairs and has precise insight into the Korean Peninsula issue.

Kong is also China’s second such special envoy. Kong’s predecessor, Wu Dawei, held the post for seven years from 2010.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on August 14 at a press briefing that Kong’s appointment has no relation to the current situation. China’s stance and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue has always been consistent, and it makes efforts to facilitate early resumption of talks and proper settlement of the issue.