Ambassador (Rtd) 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, Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu (Nepal), and Joint Secretary (East Asia) in Ministry of External Affairs. 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 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 the Ministry of External Affairs for 4 years each, closely involved in the formulation and implementation of India’s foreign policy with respect to China and East Asia. He has an advanced certificate in Chinese from National University of Singapore.
Kantha joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977.
CURRENT POSITIONS
- Director, Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi, w.e.f. 31 March 2011
- Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi
PAST POSITIONS
- Ambassador of India to China until January 2016
- High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Malaysia
- Consul General in Hong Kong
- Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu (Nepal)
- Joint Secretary (East Asia) in Ministry of External Affairs
Publications