BEIJING - China on Monday welcomed newly-appointed Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia C. Brady to take office as soon as possible.

"We welcome the Philippine government to send the ambassador to Beijing as soon as possible, and we believe it will help strengthen communications between both sides through diplomatic channels," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a regular press briefing.

Philippine President Benigno S Aquino III designated career diplomat Brady the country's ambassador to China earlier this month.

Brady first served in the Philippine Embassy in Beijing as the third secretary and vice consul and as second secretary and consul from 1976 to 1978, and she previously served as the Philippine ambassador to China from April 2006 to January 2010.