Senior diplomat Liu Jianchao has been promoted to lead an important department of the country's top anti-corruption watchdog, opening a new career path for top diplomats.

Liu, assistant foreign minister, has been appointed deputy director of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention, a vice-ministerial-level post, according to a government announcement on Tuesday.

He has also been named head of the International Cooperation Department of the more powerful Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, the country's top anti-graft watchdog, sources at the commission said.