Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang Announces:

The Chinese Government has decided that Ambassador Wu Sike will succeed Ambassador Sun Bigan as China’s Special Envoy on the Middle East issue. Over the past three years, Special Envoy Sun Bigan has made unremitting efforts and positive contribution to promoting the peace process of the Middle East and developing China’s relations with the Middle East countries. As a senior diplomat experienced in the Middle East affairs, Ambassador Wu Sike has served as Director General of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt and also the first Chinese plenipotentiary representative to the League of Arab States. He is now member of the 11^th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Special Envoy Wu will faithfully carry out the policies and propositions of the Chinese Government on the Middle East issue, continue to stay in close contact with parties concerned in various forms, and actively promote negotiations and reconciliation in an effort to push forward the Middle East peace process.