Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy

The Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy (Chinese: 新闻司; pinyin: Xīnwénsī), also called the Department of Information, is a department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC) that acts as the Ministry's information service.

Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

中华人民共和国外交部新闻司 Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Wàijiāobù Xīnwénsī
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	People's Republic of China
Headquarters	No. 2, Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Agency executives	Mao Ning, Director Jiang Xiaoyan, Lin Jian, Guo Jiakun, Deputy Directors
Parent agency	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Website	www.fmprc.gov.cn

History

The predecessor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information Department was the Intelligence Department, which was established in December 1949. In June 1955, the Intelligence Department was renamed the Information Department.

Functions

The department is officially "responsible for releasing information on China's major diplomatic events and stating China's foreign policy", managing the press coverage of diplomatic events. It "guides China's overseas diplomatic missions on information work and provides service to permanent offices of foreign media organizations and foreign journalists in China".

Structure

Deputy directors of the department serve as spokespersons of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Directors

• Gong Peng (1949–1964)
• Qin Jialin (1964–1965?)
• Chen Chu (1965?–1972)
• Peng Hua (1972–1974)
• Qin Jialin (1974–1976)
• Qian Qichen (1976–1982)
• Qi Huaiyuan (1983–1984)
• Ma Yuzhen (1984–1988)
• Li Zhaoxing (1988–1990)
• Wu Jianmin (1990–1994)
• Chen Jian (1994–1996)
• Shen Guofang (1996–1998)
• Zhu Bangzao (1998–2001)
• Kong Quan (2001–2006)
• Liu Jianchao (2006–January 2009)
• Ma Zhaoxu (2009–2011)
• Qin Gang (2011–January 2015)
• Liu Jianchao (January 2015–April 2015; Assistant Minister)
• Lu Kang (April 2015–July 2019)
• Hua Chunying (July 2019–January 2025; December 2021–May 2024, concurrently Assistant Minister; May 2024–January 2025, concurrently Vice Minister)
• Mao Ning (January 2025–present)

References

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2. Carter, Cindy (2022-03-26). "COVID Conspiracies, Hashtag Suppression, and a Broadside Aimed at the "Great Translation Movement"". China Digital Times. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
3. 郭伟伟 (2011). 当代中国外交研究. 北京: 北京理工大学出版社. p. 152-156.
4. "The Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
5. "中国"非典型"外交辞令引追捧". 和讯网. Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
6. "外交部部长助理、礼宾司长张昆生被免，秦刚接掌礼宾司". The Paper. 2015-01-02. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
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8. "外交部部长助理刘建超不再兼任新闻司司长，陆慷接棒". The Paper. 2015-04-16. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
9. "陆慷调任北美大洋洲司司长，华春莹任外交部新闻司司长". The Paper. 2019-07-22. Archived from the original on 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
10. "毛宁任外交部新闻司司长，接替华春莹". The Paper. 2025-01-15. Archived from the original on 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-16.