At the China-India talks in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, Zhou Hongxu, director of the Central Guard Bureau, appeared beside Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, attending in plain clothes. Eight months after Zhang Youxia was dismissed in January 2026, Zhou Hongxu remains in his post.
Xi Jinping plans to visit the United States in September, and Ma Chaoxu's activities in the U.S. are seen as part of the preparatory work ahead of the trip.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Ma Chaoxu has recently been active in the United States, meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and other officials in an effort to ease China-U.S. relations.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official media "China Daily" reported that China's first Vice Foreign Minister Ma Chaoxu will visit the United States next week, and Hong Kong media interpreted it as paving the way for Xi Jinping's visit to the United States.
Former CCP official and commentator Du Wen revealed that Ma Zhaoxu, the current executive vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is about to take over as Foreign Minister, and the current Foreign Minister Wang Yi is about to step down.
After completing his graduate studies in 1987, Ma Chaoxu went directly to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ma Chaoxu participated in the international debate competition held in Singapore as a graduate student and emerged as a top debater.
Ma Zhaoxu was admitted to Peking University in 1981 to study economics.