Xi Jinping receives credentials from eight new ambassadors to China

President Xi Jinping received the credentials presented

by the newest eight ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People

in Beijing Wednesday.

The new diplomats are Selim

Belortaja from Albania, Jose Bernal from Mexico, Usenov Azamat from

Kyrgyzstan, Mothusi Palai from Botswana, Edward Boateng from Ghana,

Terry Branstad from the United States, Jean-Maurice Ripert from France

and Patricia Rodriguez Holkemeyer from Costa Rica.

Xi welcomed all the ambassadors to China and asked them to convey his greetings back to their own countries.

The Chinese government will support the ambassadors' work and hopes that they will contribute to bilateral relations, Xi said.

Xi

spoke highly of relations with the eight countries and said China will

promote cooperation and deepen people-to-people exchanges to boost ties.

The ambassadors conveyed greetings from their state leaders to Xi and said their countries value relations with China.