(XINHUA)

Qin Gang, former spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Deputy Director General of the ministry's Information Department, was recently appointed director general of the department, taking over from Ma Zhaoxu, who has been in the post since 2009. The Information Department is responsible for releasing information on China's major diplomatic events and stating China's foreign policy.

Qin, 45, was the ministry's spokesman and deputy director general of the Information Department from 2005 to 2010. He worked as minister at China's Embassy to the UK from 2010 to 2011.