In brief
In a breakthrough development, India and China have announced the resumption of direct flights between the two nations, a move that reflects a renewed effort to stabilize relations strained by border disputes.
After nearly five years of cessation, due primarily to the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating military confrontations, the agreement was finalized following a diplomatic visit from India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, to Beijing. The relationship between the two prominent Asian powers has been mired in challenges, notably after deadly skirmishes erupted in the Himalayas in 2020, claiming the lives of soldiers from both nations.The recently concluded discussions also encompassed improvements in media access for journalists from each country and provisions for Indian pilgrimages to a revered Hindu site in Tibet. The announcement is viewed as part of a broader effort to restore diplomatic ties, which had reached a nadir in recent years.In October, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in their first formal discussions in five years at a summit in Russia, which initiated a renewed dialogue. The latest trip to Beijing by Mr. Misri is seen as a follow-up to that meeting, focusing on "people-centric steps" to enhance bilateral relations, as stated by India's foreign ministry.The technicalities pertaining to the flight resumption will be addressed in subsequent meetings between officials from both nations. Even though flights to Hong Kong resumed after pandemic restrictions eased, direct flights to mainland China remained grounded due to ongoing tensions.During their meeting, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of both nations working collaboratively to overcome existing suspicions and divisions, stressing the need to "seize the opportunity" presented by the current thaw in relations.
