Canberra, Shawwal 02, 1431, September 11, 2010, SPA -- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who narrowly won elections last month just weeks after toppling Rudd in an internal Labor Party insurrection, made the appointment as part of several changes to her Cabinet, the Associated Press reported. Rudd, 53, is well qualified for the foreign minister post. Before entering politics he was a senior diplomat and spent years working and studying in China - one of Australia's most important trade and diplomatic partners. He speaks fluent Mandarin. He replaces Stephen Smith who was foreign minister for three years while Rudd was prime minister. Smith was named defense minister in Saturday's shuffling of posts. Gillard was Rudd's deputy until June, when she unseated him in an internal party vote, saying she believed the government had lost its way. She announced a handful of major policy changes, then called elections that resulted in an almost drawn result with the conservative coalition. Gillard last week completed a deal with independents and minor party lawmakers that allowed her to lead Australia's first minority government in almost 70 years. Gillard publicly promised Rudd a senior post in her government if it were re-elected. --SPA 11:48 LOCAL TIME 08:48 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/816523