China formally appointed its two new top diplomats and defense minister on Saturday, March 16 positions which had already been flagged in advance as part of the new government of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, Reuters reported.

Outgoing foreign minister Yang Jiechi, ambassador to Washington from 2001-2005 and a polished English speaker, was promoted to state councilor with responsibility for foreign policy.

China has only five such councilors and the post is senior to that of foreign minister.

Yang, 62, was replaced as foreign minister by Wang Yi, China's ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2007 and a one-time pointman on North Korea.

Both were voted in by the ruling Communist Party's hand-picked delegates to the annual session of parliament, meeting in central Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People.

Chang Wanquan, who has overseen China's ambitious space program, was chosen as defense minister.

From a humble background, he has advocated the military's modernization, something which has jangled regional nerves, and was the frontrunner for the job.