[Myanmar] China Appoints Veteran Diplomat As Ambassador To Burma

China has named Yang Houlan, a veteran diplomat who has held three previous ambassadorial posts, to lead its embassy in Burma. Yang was the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan and Nepal, as well as on Korean Peninsula Affairs, and has also served in the Chinese embassies in Indonesia and Malaysia. Observers say that Yang’s appointment reflects China high hopes for an improvement in relations after a series of problems over the past two years. Meanwhile, Beijing’s first envoy for Asia, Wang Yingfan, will also make improving ties with Burma his first priority, according to the state-run China Daily.