China and India to re-etablish air connections after 5 years disruption
India and China have agreed to restart direct flights between the two countries “at the earliest,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced on August 19. The move signals an end – or at least a significant improvement- in strained bilateral ties between the two giant nations in Asia.
The agreement was confirmed during bilateral talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.
Direct air travel between the nations has been suspended since 2020. The ban on direct flights is forcing until today travelers onto indirect routes through hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore. The suspension followed deadly border clashes that year. It left 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops dead.
During the meeting, Both China and India agreed to update their Air Services Agreement and ease visa processes for tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors traveling in either direction.
The move comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled trip to China. India PM will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin on August 31. He will then meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Indian aviation authorities and major carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, have been notified but have not released public statements.
The resumption of flights will consequently mark a significant step toward mending relations amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in Asia.
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