The India China Institute is proud to host Ambassador Nirupama Rao for a talk exploring the trajectory of relations between these two Asian giants, so near and still so far from each other. Issues left over from the past still cast long shadows although the two nations and their leaders have built systems of interaction and dialogue that have helped maintain a peaceful environment in relations between them. Has the advent of strong, personality-driven leadership in both countries been a factor for closer understanding that can promote an accelerated settlement of outstanding issues or will the accelerated rise of China only intensify competition and strategic mistrust between the two neighbors?

Nirupama Menon Rao is a 1973 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, who served as India’s Foreign Secretary from 2009 to 2011, as well as being India’s Ambassador to the United States, China and Sri Lanka (High Commissioner) during her career. In July 2009, she became the second woman to hold the post of India’s Foreign Secretary, the head of the Indian Foreign Service. In her career she served in several capacities including, Minister of Press, Information and Culture in Washington DC, Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow, stints in the MEA as Joint Secretary, East Asia and External Publicity, the latter position making her the first woman spokesperson of the MEA, Chief of Personnel, Ambassador to Peru and China, and High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.