The new Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Jiu Huan has warmly praised King Birendra’s contributions to Nepal-China relations while presenting his letters of credence at a ceremony at the Royal Place on December 22.

Although that is wholly in keeping with Beijing’s past practice, which has remained unaltered through the vicissitudes of the political scene in Nepal, such references stand out when compared with statements at such ceremonies by other envoys which do not specify the personal role that the King may have played in furthering the relations between Nepal and their own countries.

People’s Review, 28 December, 1995.