OTTAWA - A senior official with the Afghanistan Task Force is on his way to China as Canada's new ambassador.
David Mulroney has worked as foreign and defence policy adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper since 2006.
Mulroney, who is no relation to former prime minister Brian Mulroney, had been rumoured as front-runner for the China post.
The career public servant and diplomat takes on the job as the Conservatives try to mend fences with the rising economic powerhouse.
Relations have been rocky between Ottawa and Beijing since the Harper government criticized China's record on human rights and Tibet.
The rift culminated when Harper missed the opening ceremonies last year at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
