There has been curiosity among the political and diplomatic spectrum as to whom China is sending as a new ambassador to Nepal.
Two weeks after Ambassador Hou Yanqi returned home after spending four years in Nepal, China, the northern neighbor, has not proposed a name to replace her, officials say.
Sun Weidong, Chinese ambassador to India, and Hou Yanqi, ambassador to Nepal, were bidden farewell at the same time. Now China will propose new ambassadors to India and Nepal at the same time.
It is learned that Hou, who returned from Nepal, has been transferred to look after the ASEAN, the association of Southeast Asian nations. But there is also a rumor that Ambassador Sun is going to be given some important responsibilities at the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
According to a diplomatic official in Kathmandu, within the next few weeks, China will decide on a new ambassador to Nepal.
The official said that Beijing will appoint an ambassador from among the diplomats who can balance the growing geopolitical competition with the US and the regional competition with India.
Some names have been discussed for the ambassador that China can now send to Nepal. At the forefront of the discussion is Xiong Bo, who is currently serving as a Chinese ambassador to Vietnam. Similarly, Wang Xin, who has been serving as charge d'affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, is also reported to be the next Chinese Ambassador to Nepal.
Officials have claimed that there is a possibility that a third person may come, ruling out both of them.
Xiong Bo is considered a Chinese diplomat who has a good understanding of South Asian affairs. He joined the Chinese Foreign Service in 1985 from the Department of Asian Affairs.
Another diplomat, Wang, has the experience of working in the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu and also is busy interacting with the Nepali leadership.
After being elected as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party for the third term, Xi Jinping is interested in what kind of foreign policy, especially neighborhood relations, he will have throughout Asia.
Therefore, many people are interested in what kind of Chinese ambassadors will be appointed in South Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh, which have close economic ties with China.
