Chinese president receives credentials of 14 ambassadors

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials presented by 14 new ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday.

The ambassadors are Friedrich Stift from Austria, Saidov Bakhtiyor from Uzbekistan, Mamadou Ndiaye from Senegal, Zeynalli Akram from Azerbaijan, Martin Mbazumutima from Burundi, Baba Ahmad Jidda from Nigeria, Chrispus Kiyonga from Uganda, Baudelaire Ndong Ella from Gabon, Jarno Syrjala from Finland, Everardus Kronenburg from the Netherlands, Eoin O'Leary from Ireland, Francisco Escobar from Panama, Marc Vinck from Belgium, and Marc Hubsch from Luxembourg.

Xi welcomed the ambassadors to China and asked them to convey his sincere greetings and good wishes to the leaders and people of their countries.

The Chinese government will provide convenience and support for the work of the ambassadors, Xi said, adding that he hopes they will actively contribute to bilateral relations between China and their countries.

Xi spoke positively of sound relations with the 14 countries, and said China will enhance mutual political trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, and boost friendly exchanges to elevate bilateral ties.

The ambassadors conveyed greetings from their state leaders to Xi. They said their countries highly value relations with China, as well as the friendship between the peoples, and expect to participate in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

They said they feel greatly honored to serve as ambassadors to China, and will devote their best efforts to deepening mutual understanding and trust between the peoples.