India and China agree to resume direct air services after a five-year hiatus, marking a significant thaw in frosty ties between the two nations.
The two countries agreed to take appropriate measures to further promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, including media and think-tank interactions. They 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 relationship between India and China is complex, with a history dating back to the Silk Road era.
The two nations share a 3,488 km border, which has been a source of tension in recent years.
In 1962, the Indo-China War led to a significant deterioration in relations.
However, since the 1990s, efforts have been made to improve ties through economic cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
Today, India is China's largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade exceeding $80 billion annually.
A significant thaw in frosty ties between India and China has taken place after a visit by New Delhi‘s top career diplomat, Vikram Misri, to Beijing. The announcement came at the conclusion of the trip, which marked one of the most senior official visits since a deadly Himalayan troop clash on their shared border in 2020 sent relations into a tailspin.
Vikram Misri is a career diplomat from India.
He has served as the Ambassador of India to China since August 2019.
Prior to this appointment, he held various positions within the Indian Foreign Service, including serving as the Deputy High Commissioner in New Zealand and the Consul General in Hong Kong.
Misri holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has completed the National Security Course at the SASENA Institute.
He is known for his expertise on China and East Asia.
The agreement is a major development in the bilateral relationship between India and China, two of the world’s most populous nations. The two countries had committed to work harder on diplomacy to ‘restore mutual trust and confidence‘ and to resolve outstanding trade and economic issues.
Flights Between India and China Were Halted Five Years Ago
Before the pandemic, around 500 monthly direct flights operated between China and India. However, due to the bitter fallout of a deadly troop clash in early 2020, services to Hong Kong eventually resumed as the public health crisis receded, but not to the Chinese mainland.
The decision marks a significant improvement in bilateral ties between the two countries, which have been intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia. A series of people-centric initiatives aimed at rebuilding mutual trust and cooperation were discussed during Misri‘s visit to Beijing.
Key Decisions Announced
In addition to resuming direct air services, India and China also agreed to resume a pilgrimage to the popular Hindu shrine in Tibet that had been halted due to the pandemic. The two countries have decided to work harder on diplomacy to ‘restore mutual trust and confidence‘ and to resolve outstanding trade and economic issues.
The agreement is a major development in the bilateral relationship between India and China, which have been intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia.
