The decision comes amid growing efforts to stabilize ties after heightened tensions in the Himalayas.
India and China to Renew Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus
India and China to Renew Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus
Recent talks signal a thaw in relations and improved travel agreements between the two nations.
Jan. 28, 2025, 2:16 a.m. ET — In a significant development in Asian diplomacy, India and China have announced plans to resume direct flights between the two countries, ending a nearly five-year suspension that followed rising tensions over a border dispute. The announcement reflects a gradual thaw in relations between the two nations, which had been embroiled in military confrontations in the Himalayas since 2020.
The renewed flight agreements were disclosed on Monday, following a visit by India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, to Beijing. Both countries are also working on improving access for journalists and facilitating pilgrimages to a Hindu shrine in Tibet as part of the broader push to normalize ties.
Relations between India and China had plummeted to their lowest in decades due to a Chinese incursion into disputed territories, resulting in deadly skirmishes that heightened military alertness. Recent months, however, have seen significant diplomatic efforts aimed at alleviating tensions, including an important meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit in Russia last October—their first official talks in five years.
Following Mr. Misri’s discussions in China, the two foreign ministries emphasized the necessity of continuing to build mutual trust to usher in stability. Plans to finalize the technical details of the resumed flights are currently underway, particularly as direct travel to mainland China had remained halted after the Covid-19 pandemic.
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, expressed hope in his meeting with Mr. Misri, urging both nations to “meet each other halfway” to usher in a new era of cooperation, moving past mutual distrust and confrontation. The commitment to restarting direct flights represents a positive step in re-establishing connections that were strained during a period of significant geopolitical tension.
The renewed flight agreements were disclosed on Monday, following a visit by India’s foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, to Beijing. Both countries are also working on improving access for journalists and facilitating pilgrimages to a Hindu shrine in Tibet as part of the broader push to normalize ties.
Relations between India and China had plummeted to their lowest in decades due to a Chinese incursion into disputed territories, resulting in deadly skirmishes that heightened military alertness. Recent months, however, have seen significant diplomatic efforts aimed at alleviating tensions, including an important meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit in Russia last October—their first official talks in five years.
Following Mr. Misri’s discussions in China, the two foreign ministries emphasized the necessity of continuing to build mutual trust to usher in stability. Plans to finalize the technical details of the resumed flights are currently underway, particularly as direct travel to mainland China had remained halted after the Covid-19 pandemic.
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, expressed hope in his meeting with Mr. Misri, urging both nations to “meet each other halfway” to usher in a new era of cooperation, moving past mutual distrust and confrontation. The commitment to restarting direct flights represents a positive step in re-establishing connections that were strained during a period of significant geopolitical tension.
