Vikram Doraiswami has been appointed as India’s next ambassador to China, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday.
Currently serving as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, he will succeed Pradeep Kumar Rawat in Beijing and is expected to take up the assignment soon. His appointment comes at a sensitive time as India and China continue efforts to stabilise relations following the 2020 border tensions, including the Galwan Valley clash, which had pushed ties to their lowest point in decades.
Who is Vikram Doraiswami?
A 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Doraiswami is regarded as one of India’s most experienced diplomats with deep exposure to Asia and global affairs. He is an alumnus of University of Delhi, where he completed his master’s degree in history, and briefly worked as a journalist before joining the foreign service.
He began his diplomatic career in Hong Kong in 1994 and later served in Beijing between 1996 and 2000, where he also studied the Chinese language—an experience seen as valuable for his new role.
Key diplomatic roles
Over the years, Doraiswami has held several significant assignments, including postings at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York and at the Consulate General in Johannesburg. He also served in the Prime Minister’s Office and handled important divisions within the MEA, including SAARC and the Americas.
He later served as India’s ambassador to Uzbekistan and South Korea, before returning to New Delhi in senior roles related to international organisations and summits.
Recent assignments
Before taking charge in London in 2022, Doraiswami was India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh from 2020 to 2022, a tenure marked by key developments in neighbourhood diplomacy.
With prior experience in China and a wide-ranging diplomatic career, Doraiswami’s appointment is seen as significant as India navigates a complex and evolving relationship with Beijing.
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