Lu was a prominent "Wolf Warrior" diplomat -- a nickname given to those who respond vehemently to critics perceived as hostile to China.

He caused outrage during his tenure in France when he questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet states, telling a broadcaster they "don't have effective status under international law".

Lu, who served in Paris from 2019 for five years, has been appointed Special Representative for European Affairs, Beijing's foreign ministry told a regular press briefing.

He will "assist and coordinate the management" of issues relating to Europe and "conduct consultations and exchanges with European countries and European Union (EU) institutions", a spokesman said.

His predecessor Wu Hongbo made numerous visits to European countries and spoke on behalf of the Chinese government on matters relating to the region.

Lu's comments on former Soviet states are not the only high-profile controversies he has been involved in.

In January 2019, as ambassador to Canada, he accused Ottawa of "white supremacy" for calling for the release of two Canadians detained in China, days after Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese national and Huawei executive, was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States.

In 2021, France's foreign ministry condemned "unacceptable comments" from Lu including "insults and threats toward lawmakers and a French researcher".

Lu had attacked Antoine Bondaz, a China specialist at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) think-tank, as a "small-time hoodlum," a "crazed hyena" and "ideological troll" with "anti-Chinese" stances after he complained about Chinese pressure on French lawmakers hoping to visit Taiwan.

Lu is a "high-ranking diplomat who knows the situation in Europe well" who will contribute to "the stable and healthy development of China-EU relations", the foreign ministry said Thursday.