NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- India has appointed its former envoy to China, Vijay Keshav Gokhale, as the country's new Foreign Secretary.

Gokhale, currently Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, will take over from incumbent S. Jaishankar when he demits office on Jan. 28, the Ministry of Personnel said in a statement late Monday.

A career diplomat, Gokhale is proficient in Chinese language and has wide experience in dealing with East Asian countries. He has earlier served as Director (China and East Asia) and subsequently as Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

In 2015, he was appointed Ambassador to China for two years. He has also served in China's Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam in various capacities.