Dr. Syed Ali Asad Gillani assumed his responsibilities as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China on 01 October 2026.

Ambassador Gillani holds an MBA from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He also holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Middle East Technical University, Ankara. His doctoral research focused on the geopolitics of connectivity and its impact on regional security structures in Greater Central Asia.

Ambassador Gillani joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1996. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, he has held a range of important assignments, including Director (China) and later Director General (China), Deputy Chief of Protocol, Director General (Afghanistan, Iran & Türkiye), and Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) and Additional Secretary (Asia & Pacific).

His diplomatic career includes assignments at Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Beijing, Geneva, Tokyo and Ankara. He also served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Uzbekistan from 2020-2023, where he furthered Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in Central Asia.

Ambassador Gillani speaks Chinese language which he studied at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). His academic background and professional experience encompass China, Central Asia and the wider region with a range of bilateral and regional policy issues.

He is married and has three children.