Senior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, currently the country’s Ambassador to Germany, has been appointed as the Ambassador to China to replace Ashok Kantha, whose term will end in early January.
A 1981 batch IFS officer, Mr. Gokhale is expected to take up the assignment shortly, External Affairs Ministry announced on Wednesday.
He would replace Mr. Kantha, who was appointed as envoy to China in January 2014 for a two-year term.
Served in missions abroad
Before taking up position in Germany as India’s top envoy, he has served in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and New York.
In the MEA headquarters here, Mr. Gokhale has also held the posts of director (China and East Asia) and then Joint Secretary (East Asia) and is known to be one of the most knowledgeable officials, who is well-versed with China affairs.
