China is set to introduce significant changes to its foreign affairs structure with the merger of two ministerial-level organisations under its top diplomat, as it continues to push for greater recognition as a global leader, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

While the office of the central leading group was supposed to coordinate these disparate executive agencies, in reality it lacked the status to perform the role effectively, Li Mingjiang, an associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said.

“Some executive agencies simply bypass the office and go straight to the top leadership,” he said. “There is a lack of an effective and authoritative coordination mechanism between the senior party leadership and the executive agencies.”

The proposed restructuring had been needed for a long time, Li said, adding that the promotion of Yang to the Politburo and the appointment of Wang Qishan as vice-president would help to ensure that the country’s diplomats had real authority in the foreign policy decision-making process.

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