India-China flight ties resume after five years: A step towards better relations

Direct flights between India and China are set to resume this Sunday, marking a significant step towards improving relations between the two nations. After a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions, the restoration of air links aims to boost people-to-people exchanges.

IndiGo Airlines will operate daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26 and from Delhi to Guangzhou starting November 10. China Eastern Airlines will also resume Shanghai-Delhi flights on November 9, operating three times a week. These flights will provide a convenient travel option for passengers and facilitate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has welcomed the move, stating that it will facilitate friendly exchanges between the two nations. China is willing to work with India to promote healthy and stable bilateral ties, contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

The strained relations between India and China began in 2020, following the Galwan Valley clashes, which led to a significant deployment of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. However, a disengagement pact reached in October last year paved the way for normalization efforts. Recent diplomatic efforts, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, have furthered this progress. The resumption of direct flights is a positive step towards strengthening India-China relations.