KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday appointed Deep Kumar Upadhyay and Leela Mani Paudyal as Nepali Ambassadors to India and China respectively.

A statement issued by the President's Office informed that Upadhyay would enjoy the diplomatic ranking of a ministerial level.

The appointments were made in accordance to Article 282.1 of the Constitution.

Upadhyay, a Nepali Congress leader, was Nepali Ambassador to India before he was recalled by the KP Sharma Oli government earlier this year. He was charged with non-cooperation and working against Nepal’s interests.

Paudyal, known for his austerity as well as anti-corruption and good governance initiatives, is a former Chief Secretary.

The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee on October 2 had endorsed their names for the ambassadorship.

The Council of Ministers on September 1 had recommended them for the key diplomatic outposts in Nepal's two immediate neighbours.

Earlier, the Oli-led government had recommended CPN-UML leader Mahendra Bahadur Pandey for ambassadorship in the northern neighbour. The new government led by CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, however, had withdrawn the recommendation.