BEIJING, June 12: China has appointed veteran diplomat Sun Weidong, an expert in South Asian affairs as its new envoy to India, media reports said on Tuesday.

Sun, who also served as the ambassador to Pakistan, is currently the Director General of the Policy and Planning Department of the Foreign Ministry, the Press Trust of India reported. He will succeed Luo Zhaohui, who has been appointed as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

An agreement has been conveyed by India to China on Sun's appointment, PTI reported quoting Indian Embassy officials based in Beijing. Indian Ambassador to China, Vikram Misri congratulated Sun on his appointment through a tweet.

"Congratulations to His Excellency Sun Weidong, who has been appointed as the new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to India - had the opportunity to welcome him home recently in Beijing and wish him all the best for his important mission," Misri said.

Sun who specializes in China and South Asia relations interacted closely with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar during his tenure in Beijing as the Indian ambassador from 2009 to 2013, the report added. Sun was the Deputy Director General during the tenure of Jaishankar. 

 
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