What happened?
India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flights between the two nations, nearly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent political-military tensions. The announcement on January 27, 2025, came at the conclusion of a visit to Beijing by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Why it matters to India:
Mr Misri’s trip to Beijing was to follow up on a series of “people-centric steps to stabilise and rebuild ties,” according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). A statement from MEA confirmed that the visit yielded an agreement “in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries.” The rapprochement also included agreements on improving access for journalists from both sides and facilitating Indian pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.