Senior diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale, currently the country’s Ambassador to Germany, has been appointed as the Ambassador to China to replace Ashok Kantha, whose term will end in early January. A 1981 batch IFS officer, Mr. Gokhale is expected to take up the assignment shortly. He would replace Mr. Kantha, who was appointed as envoy to China in January 2014 for a two-year term.

Served in missions abroad

• Before taking up position in Germany as India’s top envoy, he has served in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and New York.
• Mr. Gokhale has also held the posts of director (China and East Asia) and then Joint Secretary (East Asia) and is known to be one of the most knowledgeable officials, who is well-versed with China affairs.

What is the difference between Ambassador and High Commissioner?

The functions these two individuals perform are the same; there is no difference. Britain’s diplomatic missions in various parts of the world are either called “High Commission” or “Embassy”.

For example, the diplomatic mission in Delhi is called the High Commission, and the senior diplomat in charge of it is the “High Commissioner”.

Since the United States and Russia were never a part of the Commonwealth, Britain’s diplomatic missions in these countries are called “Embassies”, and not “High Commissions”. The person in charge of one is called “Ambassador”.