Nepal on Tuesday chose new ambassadors to 21 countries. A cabinet meeting recommended the names of new ambassadors, mostly chosen by the ruling parties and the rest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, a leader of the ruling UML, has been chosen as Nepal's new ambassador to China. Nepal is trying to strengthen its trade ties with China after the recent Indian blockade, and the UML-led government seems to have chosen a high-profile candidate to explore new frontiers of partnership with the northern neighbour.
The government has also recommended new ambassadors to major labour destination countries for Nepali migrant workers, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE.
Here is the list of new ambassadors.
From UML
Mahendra Pandey, China
Narad Bharadwaj, Sri Lanka
Shiva Maya Thumbahamphe, Israel
Ali Akhtar Mikraji, Saudi Arabia
Khadka KC, Japan
From UCPN (M)
Yubanath Lamshal, Denmark
Lakki Sherpa, Australia
Padam Sundas, Bahrain
Mahendra Singh, Qatar
From RPP-Nepal
Niranjan Thapa, Russia
Khagendra Basnet
Bharat Rayamajhi
From the MoFA
Tara Prakash Pokharel, Brasil
Ramesh Khanal, Germany
Prakash Subedi, Austria
Lok Bahadur Thapa, Belgium
Sewa Lamsal, Pakistan
Jhabindra Aryal, Egypt
Rishikesh Ghimire, Myanmar
Durga Bahadur Chhetri, Britain