Next Foreign Secretary Rao ready for challenges of the job

India's Ambassador to China and the new Foreign Secretary, Nirupama Rao, said that she is looking forward her new assignment with optimism and is ready for the challenges that come with job. Rao, succeeds Shivshankar Menon who will retire on July 31. Rao will be the second woman to hold the post after Chokila Iyer. She will assume charge on August 1.