Bian Lixin has been named China’s commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau Special Administrative Region, succeeding Liu Xianfa, who has completed a five-year term in the post.
The news of Ms Bian’s appointment was reported on Friday by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Ms Bian has previously held several senior positions, including director-general of the ministry’s department of personnel.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of three central government bodies with a presence in the city. The other two are the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, and the local garrison of the People’s Liberation Army.
Although the indvidual holding the post of commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not involved in day-to-day governance in Macau, the position is widely regarded as being an influential one.
