(Exclusive): New Chinese Ambassador to India reaches New Delhi, assumes charge
A former ambassador to Pakistan and expert on South Asian affairs, Sun Weidong held the post of director general at the foreign ministry’s planning department before being named as the envoy to India.
New Delhi. Career diplomat Sun Weidong who was nominated Chinese envoy to India last month has arrived in New Delhi along with his wife to assume charge.
“Just arrived at Delhi with my wife Bao Jiqing. Sincere greetings to the Indian people. Look forward to working with Indian government and friends from all sectors for building better China-India relations,” Sun Weidong tweeted at 2.42am (IST) on Sunday.
A former ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong was appointed an ambassador to India weeks after outgoing envoy Luo Zhaohui was promoted as vice foreign minister.
An expert on South Asian affairs, Sun held the post of director-general at the foreign ministry’s planning department before being named as the envoy to India.
He has worked closely with the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his tenure as Ambassador in Beijing from the year 2009 to 2013.
A day before setting off for India, Sun Weidong had addressed the Indian resident journalists in Beijing on Friday, and said, “The ugly path of unilateralism and protectionism has now affected the growth and stability of the world economy. This will surely have an impact on the emerging markets and the developing countries because it also based on the international order that they rely on.”
His appointment as Chinese envoy to India has come at the time when relations between both the Asian giants are set to take a new turn and the whole world is watching with great interest.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are all set to meet during the next informal summit.
