Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials of 10 new ambassadors to China – including that of the Ambassador of East Timor – on Monday, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Hailing the good relationships between China and the countries represented by the ambassadors, Mr Xi said China would continue to consolidate traditional friendships, strengthen co-operation and people-to-people exchanges, and enhance co-ordination with those countries when working via multilateral bodies.

The Chinese Government would support the work of the ambassadors and hoped they would make contributions to the development of ties between China and the countries they represented, he added.

The new Ambassador from East Timor is Bendito dos Santos Freitas, a former education minister. He succeeds Vicky Tchong in the ambassadorial role, according to the Office of the President of East Timor.