Career diplomat Nalin Surie will replace Shiva Shankar Menon as India's [ Images ] ambassador in China.

At present, he is an additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

China has cleared the appointment, sources in the Chinese foreign ministry said.

At present, Surie is in Beijing [ Images ] to finalise the details of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's [ Images ] proposed visit to China later in June.