Beijing: Veteran Chinese diplomat Sun Weidong, an expert on South Asia who worked closely with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his tenure as Ambassador in Beijing, has been appointed as the country’s new envoy to India.
Sun, who also served as the ambassador to Pakistan, is currently the Director General of the Policy and Planning Dept of the Foreign Ministry. He will succeed Luo Zhaohui, who has been appointed as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A Chinese official said an official announcement about new Ambassador’s appointment would be made after due administrative process. Sun is well-versed with issues related to India-China ties. An agreement has been conveyed by India to China on Sun’s appointment, Indian Embassy officials in Beijing told PTI.
Indian Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri, congratulated Sun through a tweet. “Congratulations to His Excellency Sun Weidong, who has been appointed as the new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to India — had the opportunity to welcome him home recently in Beijing and wish him all the best for his important mission,” Misri said.
- KJM Varma
