Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming Arrives in Kathmandu: A Diplomatic Milestone Amid Festivals

Kathmandu — Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming is arriving in Kathmandu today to assume his diplomatic post. Zhang, who also served as Deputy Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was appointed Ambassador in early January.

According to a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhang will present his credentials to President Ram Chandra Paudel shortly after arrival. However, the schedule for the formal ceremony is being aligned with a series of upcoming diplomatic and cultural holidays. These include tomorrow (Saturday), the day after (Maha Shivaratri), Wednesday (Gyalbo Lhosar), Thursday (Democracy Day), Falgun 9 (Saturday), and Falgun 18 (Fagu Purnima). With election-related activities also in the offing, the credentials are expected to be presented at an appropriate time. This coming Tuesday also marks the beginning of China’s traditional New Year and the Spring Festival.

Ambassador Zhang succeeds Song, who completed his three-year tenure in Nepal and returned to Beijing with a promotion. Song currently serves as Director General of the Department of Policy Planning at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he is responsible for studying global developments, analyzing strategic dimensions of international relations, formulating diplomatic policy, and preparing key diplomatic documents and statements.

Ambassador Zhang is no stranger to Nepal’s political and diplomatic circles. He has previously held multiple meetings with Nepali leadership and senior officials during various political engagements and events in the past. Two years ago, he visited Nepal as part of a high-level delegation and is widely regarded as a diplomat with deep insight into Nepal’s domestic and external affairs.