China has appointed Qin Gang as its new foreign minister, state radio reported on Friday.

Qin, 56, and currently China's ambassador to the United States, replaces Wang Yi, who has been foreign minister for the past decade. Wang, 69, was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in October.

Qin has held various positions including as the ministry's spokesman and postings at the Chinese embassy in Britain.

He served as Xi's chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018.

In solving challenges common to all of mankind, China's diplomacy will offer "Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength", Qin said in his first comments as foreign minister in a statement posted on his ministry's website.

Following his appointment, Qin will return to Beijing from Washington after 17 months as China's 11th ambassador to the United States. (Reuters)