Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public for a month, has been relieved of his duties, state media reported on Tuesday.
Qin Gang, in office since December 2022, has been replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
No reason is given by the agency, which reports other appointments including that of Pan Gongsheng, an economist by training, at the head of the central bank.
In office since the end of December, Mr. Qin, with his usually busy schedule, has not been seen since June 25 and a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart in Beijing.
Since then, he has missed several diplomatic meetings, including an important meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia in early July.
An absence that generated many rumors on social networks, fueled discussions between Chinese and increased pressure on the authorities, who evaded many questions on the subject.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had then justified this absence of Qin Gang by “reasons of health”, before walling itself in virtual silence.
Since the beginning of Qin Gang’s absence, his predecessor Wang Yi had already fulfilled some of the obligations of the now ex-minister.
Wang Yi is the Chinese Communist Party’s top diplomatic official, a rank above minister.