| 1. Gokhale, a member of the 1981 Indian Foreign Service batch, became India's Foreign Secretary in January 2018. |
| 2. He successfully managed delicate diplomatic negotiations in Beijing during the Doklam crisis, earning widespread recognition. |
| 3. Known for being a "traditionalist" diplomat, he is termed as one who abides by rules and operates discreetly by his colleagues. |
| 4. With extensive experience in East Asia, especially China, he has a deep understanding of the region. |
| 5. Gokhale is fluent in the Chinese language, contributing to his effectiveness in international relations. |
| 6. During his Ambassadorship to Germany from 2013 to 2016, PM Modi commended his work, particularly for organizing the PM's visit to inaugurate Hanover-Messe in 2015, where the "Make in India" campaign was introduced. |
| 7. His diplomatic career includes roles in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing, and New York. |
| 8. He is fluent in Marathi, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and Mandarin Chinese. |
| 9. Post-retirement, he serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Carnegie India. |
| 10. He has authored four books on China: Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest (2021), The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India (2021), After Tiananmen: The Rise of China (2022), and Crosswinds: Nehru, Zhou and the Anglo-American Competition over China (2024). |
