India and China reach direct flight deal
India and China have agreed “in principle” to restart direct flights between the two countries after a five-year suspension, marking a step forward in bilateral ties following the prolonged border standoff. The decision was announced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Monday following Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s two-day visit to Beijing.
Direct air connection between India and China was suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was never re-established as diplomatic ties between the neighbors deteriorated after clashes involving the countries’ troops at a disputed border.
In October 2024, New Delhi and Beijing announced an agreement on disengagement from the points of contention and vowed to work on restoring ties. The announcement of a truce came on the eve of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where leaders Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi held an extensive bilateral meeting.
The agreement to resume direct flights was reached during high-level talks in Beijing on Sunday and Monday during which two nations built upon the agreements reached in October.
“The meet also agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries; the relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. According to reports in the Indian media, New Delhi had previously rejected China’s calls to resume flights.
During the latest talks, the two sides agreed to take certain steps to stabilize and rebuild ties, which also include resuming cooperation on pilgrimage, media, and think-tank interactions.
“It was agreed to resume these dialogues step by step and to utilize them to address each other’s priority areas of interest and concern. Specific concerns in the economic and trade areas were discussed with a view to resolving these issues and promoting long-term policy transparency and predictability,” New Delhi noted.
The improvement and development of China-India relations are in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and are conducive to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Global South countries and contributing to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of Asia and the world, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday, according to Xinhua.
Beijing, in a statement, noted that India will extend “full support” for China’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and will actively participate in the meetings under the organization’s umbrella. China will host the summit of the Eurasian group, which also includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Iran, later this year.
