India and China have reached a preliminary agreement to resume direct flights between the two countries, nearly five years after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent political tensions led to their suspension. This announcement was made on Monday following a visit to Beijing by India’s top diplomat, signaling a potential thaw in the historically strained relations between the world’s two most populous nations.
The trip by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was one of the highest-level official visits since a deadly clash between troops in the Himalayas in 2020, which severely impacted bilateral relations. According to a statement from India’s foreign ministry, the visit resulted in an agreement “in principle” to restart direct air services. The statement also indicated that relevant technical authorities from both nations would convene soon to negotiate an updated framework for these flights.
Additionally, India reported that China has allowed the resumption of a pilgrimage to a popular shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna, which had been suspended at the beginning of the decade. Both countries have pledged to enhance diplomatic efforts to “restore mutual trust and confidence” and to address outstanding trade and economic issues.
Before the pandemic, approximately 500 direct flights operated monthly between China and India. While China’s foreign ministry did not specifically mention the flight agreement, it acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations since last year, emphasizing that the development of China-India relations aligns with the fundamental interests of both nations.
The suspension of flights began in early 2020 with the onset of the pandemic. Although services to Hong Kong resumed as the public health crisis eased, flights to mainland China remained halted due to the fallout from the deadly border clash, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. In response to the incident, India imposed restrictions on Chinese companies, limiting their investments in critical sectors and banning numerous Chinese apps, including TikTok.
In October, Beijing and New Delhi agreed on a significant military disengagement at a key point along their disputed border, just before a rare formal meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first of its kind in five years. Misri’s visit to Beijing followed a diplomatic tour by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, a close ally of Modi.
