China India

Shri Vikram K. Doraiswami, presently High Commissioner of India to the UK, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to China, India's Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Thursday, saying the diplomat is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

The Times of India described Doraiswami as "a seasoned officer within the foreign service" who has previously held several key diplomatic assignments. According to Indian media, Doraiswami has previously served as India's Ambassador to Bangladesh, South Korea and Uzbekistan. In addition, he has also served as Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Notably, Indian media highlighted that Doraiswami possesses experience in dealing with China-related affairs.

According to ANI, Doraiswami was appointed third secretary in the Commission of India in Hong Kong in May 1994. He completed a Diploma in the Chinese Language at New Asia Yale-in-Asia Language School, Chinese University of Hong Kong. "He is fluent in Chinese, French and Korean," reads the ANI report. 

In September 1996, he was appointed to the Indian Embassy in Beijing, where he served for about four years, giving him "valuable experience" in dealing with China, says DNA India.  

"The position of Ambassador to China is considered one of the most critical positions within India's diplomatic service… Doraiswami's stints working in China have endowed him with a more rational and comprehensive understanding of the country," Lin Minwang, deputy director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Doraiswami is a heavyweight "China hand" among India's senior diplomats, possessing a profound understanding of China-India relations and China's national conditions, Qian Feng, director of the Research Department at Tsinghua University's National Strategy Institute, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

According to the expert, the latest appointment underscores the great importance New Delhi attaches to its ties with Beijing, and embodies a strong emphasis on both professionalism and pragmatism in stabilizing and advancing ties, which is a positive signal.

The Tribune said Doraiswami's appointment came "at a crucial juncture" in India-China relations, as both Beijing and New Delhi have taken "cautious efforts" to stabilize ties through continued diplomatic engagement to ease the strained ties since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. 

Similarly, The Times of India said the appointment comes at a time when India and China continue to engage diplomatically on bilateral issues, including border and trade-related matters. 

Following the China-India leaders' summit in Kazan in October 2024, bilateral relations have remained on a trajectory of steady improvement over the past two years, Qian noted.

Doraiswami will succeed Pradeep Rawat, the current Indian ambassador to China. According to Qian, during his tenure, Rawat made efforts to help China-India relations steadily emerge from their earlier low point.

In recent months, China and India have taken steps to restore normalcy, including resuming direct flights, easing visa restrictions, and restarting the pilgrimage journey. 

In February this year, senior officials from China and India held a new round of China-India Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi, with both sides having friendly, candid and in-depth communication on the international and regional situation, respective internal and external policies, international and regional issues of shared interest, and China-India relations. 

Doraiswami is expected to "play a key role in navigating this complex relationship," balancing competition and cooperation between the two Asian neighbors as New Delhi seeks to recalibrate its approach to Beijing, The Tribune said. 

By dispatching this senior diplomat to Beijing, India seeks to engage more precisely and effectively with China at the frontline level, thereby facilitating the management of complex and sensitive bilateral issues, managing differences and broadening cooperation, Qian added.