Briefly

Foreign Ministry ropes in new media director

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has assumed the position of director general of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of the Foreign Ministry, according to the ministry's website. Mao, 52, has been serving as the 33rd spokesperson and deputy director general of the department since September 2022. She has been engaged in diplomatic work for over 27 years, spending most of her professional career in the ministry's Department of Asian Affairs. The department manages news coverage on major diplomatic events, guides China's overseas diplomatic missions on information dissemination and provides services to foreign media organizations and foreign journalists in China, the ministry's website said.

Former vice-governor guilty of taking bribes

Wang Yixin, former vice-governor of Heilongjiang province, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes totaling 129 million yuan ($17.59 million) during a trial at the Intermediate People's Court of Heze, Shandong province, on Wednesday. Prosecutors accused Wang of taking advantage of his various positions from 2008 to 2020 to help companies and people in such matters as business contracting, land development and job promotions. From May 2005 to the second half of 2023, Wang accepted property and money totaling over 129 million yuan directly or through other people, prosecutors said. Wang confessed his crimes. The court said sentencing would be announced at a later date.

Xinhua - China Daily