India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flights between the two countries, nearly five years after the Covid-19 pandemic and escalating political tensions led to their suspension. The announcement follows a visit to Beijing by Indian Foreign Ministry Secretary Vikram Misri, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the world’s two most populous nations.
This visit marked one of the highest-level official trips since the deadly Himalayan border clash in 2020, which severely strained diplomatic ties. In a statement, India’s foreign ministry confirmed that Misri’s discussions in Beijing resulted in an agreement “in principle” to restart direct air services between the two countries. The relevant technical authorities will soon meet to negotiate a revised framework for the flights, the statement added.
Additionally, India’s statement highlighted that China had agreed to allow the resumption of a pilgrimage to a popular Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna, which had also been suspended at the start of the decade. Both countries expressed their commitment to enhancing diplomatic efforts to “restore mutual trust and confidence” and address outstanding trade and economic issues.
Before the pandemic, about 500 direct flights operated between China and India each month, according to Indian media. However, flights were halted in early 2020, initially due to the pandemic and later because of deteriorating relations after the deadly border clash in the Himalayas, where at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed. The fallout saw India clamp down on Chinese companies and ban numerous Chinese apps, including TikTok.
While China’s foreign ministry did not explicitly mention the flight resumption, it acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve bilateral relations, noting that the development of China-India ties aligns with the “fundamental interests” of both countries.
The diplomatic thaw continued last October with a military disengagement agreement at a key border flashpoint, just ahead of a rare in-person meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Misri’s visit follows a diplomatic tour by India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, earlier this month.
