China to tap Cheng as new envoy to Tokyo

BEIJING (Kyodo) China has unofficially decided to appoint its ambassador to South Korea, Cheng Yonghua, as ambassador to Japan, replacing Cui Tiankai as early as January, Chinese government sources said Saturday.

Cui, 57, is expected to become a vice foreign minister and succeed Wu Dawei as chair of the six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programs, the sources said.

The planned appointment of Cui indicates China's willingness to move forward the six-party denuclearization talks.

Cheng, 55, is a specialist in Japanese affairs, having served as the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Japan and as deputy director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department.

Cheng has firm ties with the political and business communities in Japan. Given his background and rich experience with the country, there had been growing expectations in Tokyo about Cheng assuming the ambassadorship.