Zhao Lijian, deputy director-general of the Information Department under the Foreign Ministry, hosted the ministry's regular press conference for the first time on Monday.

Zhao took the current post in August. Before that, he served as charge d'affaires ad interim and minister counselor at the Chinese embassy in Pakistan.

Monday's press conference was the first to be held in the Blue Hall after the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. The ministry held online press conferences for three consecutive weeks due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.