China Names Security Veteran Liu Haixing to Lead Party’s International Department
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Liu Haixing, a senior official from China’s top national security body, has been named head of the Communist Party’s International Department, replacing high-profile diplomat Liu Jianchao.
The appointment was disclosed in an update to the department’s official website. Both Liu Haixing, 62, and his predecessor, Liu Jianchao, 61, are members of the party’s 20th Central Committee, the top policymaking body of the party. The International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (IDCPC) is a ministerial-level body that manages the party’s relations with foreign political parties — a key channel for China’s party-to-party diplomacy.

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- Liu Haixing has been appointed head of the Communist Party’s International Department, succeeding Liu Jianchao.
- Liu Haixing is a seasoned diplomat, fluent in French, with prior roles including assistant minister of foreign affairs and deputy director at the Central National Security Commission’s office.
- Both Liu Haixing and his predecessor are members of the party’s 20th Central Committee, with the IDCPC managing party-to-party foreign relations.
- 1985:
- Liu Haixing joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 2015:
- Liu Haixing was promoted to assistant minister of foreign affairs.
- 2018:
- Liu Haixing moved to the Office of the Central National Security Commission.
- May 2022:
- Liu Jianchao began leading the IDCPC.
- October 2022:
- Liu Haixing was elected to the Central Committee at the 20th Party Congress.
- By November 2022:
- Liu Haixing was identified as deputy director in charge of daily work at the Office of the Central National Security Commission.
- 2025:
- Liu Haixing was appointed as head of the Communist Party’s International Department, replacing Liu Jianchao.
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