New Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming arrived in Kathmandu on Friday to take up his diplomatic assignment.

He was received by officials from foreign ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

Zhang was one of the deputy directors at the Department of Asian Affairs at the Chinese foreign ministry before being appointed the ambassador in Kathmandu.

He replaced Chen Song, who has already returned to China after completing his three-year tenure and getting a promotion.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, he wrote in X, a social media platform, “Namaste! It’s my great honour to be appointed as the 23rd Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Nepal. Since my arrival, I have been warmly welcomed by friendly Nepali people and deeply impressed by the beauty and vitality of Nepal.”

“Together with my colleagues, I look forward to working with all Nepali friends to further advance bilateral exchanges and practical cooperation and promote the growth of China-Nepal Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Everlasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity,” Zhang writes in X after landing in Kathmandu.

Zhang is a familiar face in Nepal’s political and diplomatic circles as he has in the past been a part of several meetings with Nepali officials and leaders. After presenting credentials to the President, he will formally start his formal meetings and engagements in Kathmandu.