Overview

• The party’s International Department updated its website on Sept 30 to list Liu Haixing as minister, confirming the change.
• He replaces Liu Jianchao, who has not appeared publicly since late July and is reportedly under disciplinary investigation after returning from overseas travel.
• Liu Haixing, 62, is a career diplomat focused on European affairs who has served since 2018 as a deputy director in the Office of the National Security Commission.
• The International Department runs party-to-party outreach that complements the Foreign Ministry’s state-to-state diplomacy.
• Analysts foresee no major policy shift, and some reports say a formal announcement could come at the Oct 20-23 party conclave.