Ashok K. Kantha

Honorary Fellow and former Director (2017-22), Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi; Chair of the Core Group on China of the Confederation of Indian Industry; formerly Secretary (East), MEA and Ambassador/High Commissioner of India to China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia

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Mr Ashok K. Kantha is an Honorary Fellow and former Director (2017-22) of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; a Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi; and Chair of the Core Group on China of the Confederation of Indian Industry. A career diplomat, Kantha was Ambassador of India to China until January 2016. Prior to this, he was Secretary (East) at Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) His previous assignments include High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, High Commissioner to Malaysia, Joint Secretary (East Asia), MEA, Consul General in Hong Kong, Deputy Chief of Mission in Nepal, Director (China), MEA, and Director (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan), MEA. Earlier, Kantha served in different capacities at Indian Missions in Singapore, China and the USA, and at headquarters in New Delhi. In his diplomatic career spanning over 38 years, Kantha specialised in India’s neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood with a particular focus on China and South Asia. He has an advanced certificate in Chinese language from National University of Singapore.