Chen Li, a former Chinese ambassador to Finland, has been named the country’s new consul general in New York City.

Chen arrived to take up his new post on Oct. 27, the consulate said in an announcement today. About half of 4.7 million Chinese Americans lived in the states of New York and California as of 2022, according to a recent report by Pew Research, citing U.S. Census Bureau data.

In a welcome statement on the consulate website, Chen said the “China-U.S. relationship, since its inception, has been moving ahead amidst ups and downs. The relationship has enhanced the well-being of the people of the two countries, and promoted world peace, stability and development.”

“My team and I are committed to following up and implementing the important common understandings reached between the two Presidents, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation across the board in the consular district, facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and promoting stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations,” Chen said.

Owing to large U.S.-China business ties, the New York area has over the years attracted prominent Chinese companies including the Bank of China, Fosun International and Vanke. As of Jan. 8, 2024, there were 265 Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and NYSE American with a total market capitalization of $848 billion, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. That group includes Internet leaders such as Pinduoduo, Alibaba and Baidu, as well as online travel services provider Trip.com and EV maker Li Auto.

Chen, 56, succeeds Huang Ping, who held the post for approximately six years. Huang said at a gala dinner in New York last month organized by the China Institute that he had reached retirement age.

“I think it’s time for me to go home and start a new life,” Huang said. The active diplomat’s final days in New York were overshadowed at least in part by federal charges that Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul, worked as an undisclosed agent for China.

The Chinese Consulate in New York’s work district covers New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

“These states enjoy great strength in economy, finance, culture, education, and tourism, a sound basis for cooperation with China and large Chinese communities,” Chen’s welcome statement said.

Chen holds a master’s degree in economics and is a member of the Communist Party of China, according to his official biography. It didn’t say where he was educated.