New Chinese Ambassador Cheng arrives in Tokyo+

TOKYO, Feb. 28 Kyodo -
China's new ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, arrived at Narita airport near
Tokyo on Sunday evening and took up his official duties the same day.
Cheng, who previously did four stints at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo including
an assignment as deputy chief of mission, is expected to try to cement
Beijing's ties with the government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in support
of Tokyo's vision for an East Asian community.
Also high on the diplomatic agenda for the new 55-year-old ambassador will be
resolution of bilateral disputes over the development of gas fields in the East
China Sea.
The new ambassador studied at Soka University in Tokyo between 1975 and 1977
and is proficient in Japanese.
Known for his genial personality, he is also well-connected in Japanese
political and business circles.
He is now expected to take up the task of fostering mutually beneficial
strategic bilateral relations between the two countries.
==Kyodo