India and China to resume direct air services and boost exchanges

In a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties, China and India have agreed to resume direct air services between the two countries, boost people-centric initiatives and visa reforms.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in New Delhi on June 12.

Sun, a former Chinese Ambassador to India, was in New Delhi for a new round of China-India Vice Foreign Minister-Foreign Secretary Dialogue, and also met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Sun stated that, with the concerted efforts of both sides, China-India relations maintain a hard-won momentum of improvement and development. Both sides should follow the important common understandings reached by the two leaders during their meeting in Kazan, view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, continuously increase political mutual trust, jointly advance exchanges and cooperation in various areas, properly handle disagreements and differences, and elevate bilateral relations on the track of sound and steady development.

The two sides agreed to jointly make preparations for the 24th Special Representatives' Meeting on China-India Boundary Question, which will be held at an appropriate time. 

"During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the developments in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Beijing on 27 January 2025 and agreed to continue to stabilize and rebuild ties with priority on people-centric engagements," the MEA said.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri acknowledged the Chinese side's cooperation in facilitating the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. He also referred to the discussions during the April 2025 meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on transboundary rivers and expressed hope for progress on the resumption of hydrological data sharing and other areas of cooperation.

Both sides agreed to expedite the steps required to resume direct flight services. Misri also called for early finalization of a revised Air Services Agreement. According to the MEA, both sides agreed to take practical steps for visa facilitation and promote exchanges between media and think tanks.

Both sides had a positive outlook on upcoming activities to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and China and pledged to support these commemorative efforts, it said.

They also agreed to hold functional dialogues, including in the economic and trade areas, to discuss and resolve specific issues of concern, according to the MEA.

The meeting reflects a sincere effort from both sides to continue dialogue following their commitment in January this year to resolve trade and economic issues, with the broader aim to cement bilateral cooperation.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage site for Indians, will begin on June 30, after a gap of five years.

Sun also expressed sympathy and condolences to the Indian side over the air crash accident in Gujarat, India on June 12.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.