After a prolonged delay of 18 months, Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed senior diplomat Xu Feihong as the new Ambassador to Bharat.
This decision comes amidst strained relations between the two nations over the military standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Xu Feihong, a seasoned diplomat who previously served as Ambassador to Afghanistan and Romania, is set to take over his new role in New Delhi soon. He will succeed Sun Weidong, who completed his tenure in Bharat in October 2022 and now serves as China’s Vice Foreign Minister overseeing South Asia policy.
The appointment of Xu coincides with Bharat’s ongoing general elections and comes at a crucial time when military and diplomatic negotiations between Beijing and New Delhi are underway to resolve the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Since the standoff erupted in May 2020 following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso area, bilateral ties between China and Bharat have remained frozen, with the exception of trade relations. The standoff has led to a stalemate in relations, prompting both sides to engage in numerous rounds of corps commanders-level talks.
According to the Chinese military, some progress has been made as both sides have agreed to disengage from four points: the Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Jianan Daban (Gogra).
However, Bharat is pushing for further disengagement from the Depsang and Demchok areas, emphasizing that normalcy in relations cannot be restored as long as border tensions persist.
Xu Feihong’s appointment signifies China’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic engagement with Bharat despite the ongoing border dispute. It is hoped that his experience and expertise will contribute to finding a peaceful resolution to the current standoff and improving bilateral relations between the two Asian giants.
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