The Chinese government has removed Qin Gang from the post of foreign minister and replaced him with Wang Yi, according to state media.
"China's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister … as it convened a session on Tuesday," the Xinhua news agency reported. "Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister."
The announcement came a month after Qin's last public appearance.
His ministry had said the 57-year-old was off work for unspecified health reasons, but the lack of detailed information on his whereabouts fuelled a swirl of speculation.
Qin had a meteoric rise from foreign ministry spokesman to China's ambassador to the US, before taking over as foreign minister and a member of China's cabinet, the State Council, in March.
The government gave little explanation for his absence except that it was for "health reasons".
Source: News agencies
