This file photo dated Jan 18, 2016, shows then Chinese vice-foreign minister Liu Zhenmin addressing the ninth Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong, China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - As was decided by the Chinese government, former vice-foreign minister and former undersecretary-general of the United Nations Liu Zhenmin succeeded Xie Zhenhua as China's special envoy for climate change, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

We believe that in his new post, special envoy Liu Zhenmin will continue stepping up dialogue and cooperation with all parties and contributing to the global transition to green and low-carbon development and the building of a community of life for humanity and nature.

Mao Ning, Spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry

The ministry’s spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a media query.

Mao said Xie, while serving as the special envoy, made an important contribution to China-US cooperation on climate change and global green and low-carbon development, and has won wide recognition from the international community.

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Special envoy Liu Zhenmin is a senior diplomat, Mao said, adding that Liu took part in multilateral negotiations on climate change as the head and major member of the Chinese delegation multiple times and, while serving as undersecretary-general for the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presided over the work in areas of climate change and sustainable development.

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"We believe that in his new post, special envoy Liu Zhenmin will continue stepping up dialogue and cooperation with all parties and contributing to the global transition to green and low-carbon development and the building of a community of life for humanity and nature," said Mao.