ASHOK K KANTHA

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 in New Delhi with responsibility for about 65 countries in India’s extended neighbourhood. His previous assignments include High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Consul General in Hong Kong, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu (Nepal). 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 specialized in India’s neighbourhood and Asian affairs, with a particular focus on China. Apart from three assignments in China, he served as Joint Secretary (East Asia) and Director (China) at Ministry of External Affairs for periods of four years each. He has an advanced certificate in Chinese language from National University of Singapore.  

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Interview | It is definitely time for us to review our relations with China
08 Jul 2020

It is definitely time for us to review our relations with China: Ashok Kantha, Former Indian Diplomat to China

India-China Tensions
16 Jun 2020

India-China tensions rise after the killing of 3 Indian army personnel at the Ladakh border, both sides claim no shots were fired.

Structural Problems Must Be Addressed
02 Oct 2019

Given outstanding issues and differences over the strategic ambitions of the two countries, we are likely to see elements of cooperation and competition as also engagement, hedging and balancing co-existing.