India and China will restart direct flights between the countries this month, India's foreign ministry has announced, marking another step towards normalizing relations between the two nations. This comes after a five-year hiatus due to tensions following deadly troop clashes along their shared border in the Himalayan region.
Direct flights had been halted since 2020, but there have been ongoing efforts from both sides to mend fences over the past year. Delhi and Beijing have been working to de-escalate tensions and improve diplomatic relations. As part of these efforts, IndiGo, India's largest budget airline, has confirmed it will commence direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting on October 26.
In a recent statement, the Indian foreign ministry expressed that the resumption of flights would enhance people-to-people contacts and contribute to the gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges. India's ill-defined border with China stretches over 3,440 kilometers, with both countries laying overlapping territorial claims.
The year 2020 saw unprecedented confrontations at the Galwan River Valley where at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers lost their lives, representing the first fatalities between the two nations since 1975.
However, developments in the last year suggested a thawing of these tensions, reinforced by high-level talks and agreements aimed at de-escalating border conflicts. Notably, in October last year, both nations agreed to new patrolling arrangements along the disputed border.
Furthermore, 2023 witnessed China allowing Indian pilgrims to visit religious sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while India reopened visa services for Chinese tourists and engaged in discussions to resume border trade through selected passes. These steps culminated in the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India, where he emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships over rivalry.
The resumption of direct flights underscores a renewed commitment to improving bilateral relationships and represents an important milestone in the road to recovery for India-China ties.
