Rising China names new foreign minister

BEIJING, Apr 27 (Reuters) China named a former ambassador to the United States as foreign minister today, replacing veteran diplomat Li Zhaoxing at a time when Beijing's diplomatic moves are increasingly in the spotlight.

Yang Jiechi, 56, formerly a vice minister who speaks smooth English, comes from Shanghai and worked in China's embassy in Washington during the 1980s and 1990s, serving as ambassador from 2001 and 2005.

The brief report gave no explanation for Li's retirement, but at 66 he was widely expected to step down before or during a national parliamentary session next year. Li, who dabbled in poetry, also served as ambassador to Washington.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the changes.

Yang assumes the diplomatic helm at a time when China's policies and interests are generating ripples across Asia and beyond.

China has been cultivating better ties with its neighbours, including Japan and Russia, and is the host of stop-start negotiations aimed at ending North Korea' nuclear weapons programme.

But Beijing analysts stress that relations with Washington remain paramount to China's concerns, and Yang's experience may help smooth turbulence with the United States over China's trade, military spending and long-term ambitions.

As well as announcing Yang's elevation, China also named new ministers of water resources, science and technology, and land and resources.

REUTERS SM VC0855