Hong Lei, Deputy Director General of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held his first press conference as the ministry's 25th spokesperson on November 2.

Hong, 41, has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1991, mostly in the Information Department. He has also served as third secretary in the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands and first secretary in the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco each for three years. Earlier this year, he was promoted to deputy director general of the Information Department.

"Hong has been working for the Information Department for a long time and is familiar with the press and media service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Ma Zhaoxu, Director General of the Information Department, on October 28 when Hong made his media debut.

Hong said he would do his best to introduce China to the international community.