Photo: Screenshot from the website of the State Council

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed an order of the State Council to issue a set of regulations on the management of Chinese citizens employed by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. 

The 12-article regulations, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026, are aimed at facilitating the recruitment of Chinese citizens by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China while protecting the legal rights and interests of Chinese employees, according to Xinhua. 

The regulations specified job performance requirements, stating that Chinese employees shall comply with China’s laws and regulations, must not engage in activities that endanger state security or harm the public interests, and shouldn’t engage in activities in the capacity of diplomatic representatives or consular officers.

The regulations clarified the overall requirements that the Chinese government, in accordance with the law, facilitates the employment of Chinese nationals by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China, while foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China shall respect Chinese laws and regulations and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of their Chinese employees. 

The regulations also defined the management responsibilities. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is responsible for guiding and coordinating the management of Chinese employees nationwide. Units entrusted by the MFA and the foreign affairs departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities are respectively responsible for managing Chinese employees of foreign diplomatic missions in China and Chinese employees of foreign consular missions within their administrative areas. Other relevant departments shall, within the scope of their responsibilities, cooperate in carrying out the related work. 

The regulations also specify the administration of employment activities, stating that to hire Chinese citizens, foreign diplomatic missions should release job and recruitment information through a platform established by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Xinhua. 
Such missions should also sign service agreements with agencies appointed by local foreign affairs offices and departments – clarifying issues like the rights and interests of Chinese employees, the regulations state, Xinhua reported.

Global Times