MANILA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced Tuesday the appointment of Asif Cheema as its new country director for China.

Cheema will oversee ADB's operations in China, including the implementation of the Country Partnership Strategy, which focuses on high-quality and sustainable development.

Since joining the ADB in 2014, Cheema has held several senior positions within the bank, including director of the Financial Institutions Division for the Private Sector Operations Department, director of the Urban and Social Sectors Division for the East Asia Regional Department, and deputy country director of the ADB's Pakistan Resident Mission.

A Pakistani national, Cheema has over 25 years of experience in investment banking and development finance. He holds an MBA from Yale University and a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the New York Institute of Technology.