China is seeking diplomatic consent from South Korea for its newly-appointed ambassador to Seoul, officials here said Wednesday.
Ambassador Ning Fukui will leave his post in mid-October as his three-year tenure ends.
"China requested 'agreement' earlier this month for the appointment of Beijing's Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, Cheng Yonghua, as its new ambassador to South Korea," a South Korean foreign ministry official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News. "A related process is under way."
Ning's farewell ceremony is slated for Oct. 16 and the new envoy will likely begin his job here late next month, he added. The outgoing ambassador's next post is unknown.
Cheng would become one of China's highest-ranking diplomats to work as ambassador to South Korea since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1992.
Cheng is known for his expertise in Asian affairs. He has served in Malaysia since 2006.