Zhou Wenzhong, former vice foreign minister of China, has been appointed China's ambassador to the United States, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday at a regular press conference.

Previously, the State Council, or China's cabinet, appointed Yang Jiechi, the former Chinese ambassador to the United States, as vice foreign minister.

Zhou began to serve in China's Foreign Ministry in 1970 and was appointed vice foreign minister in May 2003.