China’s former ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, has been promoted to the foreign minister position, replacing longtime FM Wang Yi, who has taken up a role at the politburo of the ruling Communist Party.

announced the decision on Friday, noting that the 56-year-old Qin will replace Wang immediately. Though the previous foreign minister was elected to the politburo in October, it took some time to confirm his successor.

“Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength.”

Since taking the ambassadorship, Qin has published a number of op-eds in American media outlets reflecting China’s stance on a range of issues, often emphasizing friendly collaboration. In a column earlier this week seeking to elucidate “How China Sees the World,” he argued that “China-US relations should not be a zero-sum game” while calling to “explore a way to get along based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.” 

call with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who he warned to stop Washington’s “old routine of unilateral bullying” and to cease attempts to suppress China’s development.