India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flights between the two countries, nearly five years after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent political tensions led to their suspension.
The announcement, made on Monday, followed a visit to Beijing by India’s top diplomat and signals the latest step toward improving relations between the world’s two most populous nations.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s trip to Beijing was one of the highest-level visits since a deadly clash between troops in the Himalayas in 2020, which caused a severe downturn in bilateral relations.
An Indian foreign ministry statement confirmed that the visit resulted in an agreement “in principle” to resume direct flights between India and China. It added that technical teams from both nations will soon meet to finalize the updated framework for the service.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that China has allowed the resumption of a Hindu pilgrimage to a prominent Krishna shrine, which had also been suspended at the beginning of the decade.
Both countries agreed to intensify diplomatic efforts to “restore mutual trust and confidence” and address unresolved trade and economic challenges.
Before the pandemic, approximately 500 direct flights operated between China and India each month, according to Indian media outlet.
A Chinese foreign ministry statement did not directly address the flight resumption but emphasized that both countries have been working to strengthen their relationship since last year, stressing that improved ties align with the fundamental interests of both nations.
India and China, fierce rivals in South Asia, have a long-standing competition for regional influence.
Flight services between the two nations were suspended in early 2020 when the pandemic began. While services to Hong Kong resumed later, flights to mainland China were not reinstated due to the ongoing fallout from the deadly troop clash later that year, in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed.
As a result of the conflict, India imposed restrictions on Chinese companies, limiting their investments in key sectors and banning numerous Chinese apps, including TikTok.
However, India and China agreed to a significant military disengagement in October at a critical point along their disputed border, shortly before the first formal meeting in five years between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Misri’s visit to Beijing came shortly after a diplomatic tour by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, a close ally of Modi.
