Australian envoy Leann Johnston presents her credentials

KATHMANDU: Australia’s ambassador to Nepal, Leann Johnston, presented her letters of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday.

Before the ceremony, Ambassador Johnston was escorted to the Office of the President on a horse-drawn carriage.

“It was a privilege to present my credentials to the President of Nepal, the Rt Honourable Ramchandra Paudel, in a truly beautiful ceremony. Thank you for the wonderful, warm reception. I am very excited to begin my tenure as Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal,” Ambassador Johnston said in a message posted on the Australian Embassy’s social media page.

Johnston succeeds Felicity Volk, who completed her three-and-a-half-year term in August, as Australia’s ambassador to Nepal.

Ambassador Johnston hailed people-to-people links between the two countries in a message posted on the embassy’s website. “Around 180,000 Nepalis have made Australia their home, and they are contributing to our countries’ close relations, including through growing business connections,” she said.  “In addition, Australia is delighted to be providing a world-class education to around 60,000 Nepali students.”