Li Hui
Chinese diplomat; China's special representative on Eurasian affairs.
China's 27 October 2026 pledge to send special envoys to The Gulf invites comparison with Li Hui's 2023 Ukraine mission, a tour of Kyiv, Moscow and European capitals that produced talks but no plan either side adopted.
Last refreshed: 29 October 2026
Can a Chinese envoy tour change anything in the Gulf?
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Mentioned in: China says its envoys will tour region
Iran Conflict 2026Background
Li Hui has been China's special representative on Eurasian affairs since 2019. Before that he spent ten years as ambassador to Russia, from 2009.
In April 2023 Beijing named him its envoy on the war in Ukraine. In May 2023 he toured Kyiv, Moscow and several European capitals. The trip produced talks, but neither side adopted any plan from it.
That record is the yardstick for China's new Gulf diplomacy. On 27 October 2026 foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing would soon send special envoys to the region, after being asked whether the US and Israel might resume strikes on Iran. He named no envoy and set out no mandate.
Who is Li Hui, the Chinese envoy?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 29 October 2026. Editorial standards.