BEIJING, Mar 20 : The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday welcomed the appointment of Vikram K Doraiswami as India’s Ambassador to China, describing envoys as “important bridges for fostering friendly and cooperative relations between nations.”
The ministry expressed confidence that Doraiswami, who has adopted the Chinese name Wei Jiameng, would make positive contributions after assuming his duties.
Spokesperson Lin Jian noted that the practice of non-native diplomats adopting Chinese names helps improve communication, ease, and rapport.
“China welcomes India’s newly appointed ambassador to China, Wei Jiameng, and stands ready to provide every convenience for him to take up his post in China. China hopes that after assuming his duties, he will make positive contributions to advancing the sustained improvement and development of China-India ties,” he said.
Doraiswami, a 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has previously served as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to Uzbekistan and South Korea. He took charge as India’s High Commissioner to the UK in September 2022 and is fluent in Chinese, having served at the Indian Embassy in Beijing from 1996 and in Hong Kong in 1994 as Third Secretary.
During his tenure in London, Doraiswami faced security incidents involving pro-Khalistani activists, including the attempted vandalism of the Indian High Commission in March 2023 and obstruction at a gurdwara in Glasgow in September 2023. India formally protested both incidents. Relations with the UK, which had been tense, have since improved under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
The appointment comes at a strategic moment as India-China relations continue to strengthen. Bilateral ties improved significantly following the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. This followed a breakthrough agreement ending the four-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh, easing tensions since the 2020 Galwan clash.
Doraiswami’s extensive experience and deep understanding of China are expected to play a key role in furthering diplomatic engagement during a period of global geopolitical flux.
(UNI)
The post Important bridge for bilateral ties: Beijing welcomes Doraiswami’s appointment as India’s new envoy to China appeared first on Daily Excelsior.