India and China have decided to resume direct flight services after a hiatus of nearly five years, marking a significant step towards normalising bilateral ties that had been strained since the 2020 Himalayan border conflict.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced the decision on Monday (27 January), followed by an official confirmation from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (28 January).
Beijing further stated that during a vice-ministerial meeting, both sides also deliberated on easing journalist exchanges between the two nations, reports the Guardian.
The development came after discussions between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
India’s ministry further stated that both countries would soon hold a meeting to outline the framework for the resumption of air services.
Observers see this as a positive shift in India-China relations, which had been severely affected by the deadly border skirmish in 2020.
The decision to reinstate direct flights is widely interpreted as a sign of easing tensions between the two Asian giants.
