Hou Yanqi arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday to serve as the 21st Chinese ambassador to Nepal. Officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy welcomed her at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Hou was one of the four deputy director generals at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She replaces Ambassador Yu Hong, who has returned to Beijing after being promoted to joint-secretary.

The new ambassador will start work after presenting the letters of credence to President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Hou was the focal person for South Asian affairs in the Asia department of the Chinese ministry. Having joined the Chinese Foreign Service in 1996, Hou is in her early 50s and has served in Pakistan and China’s Consulate General Office in Los Angles.