China welcomes resumption of direct flights with India

Beijing, Oct 9 (IANS) China on Thursday welcomed the resumption of direct flights with India, calling it an "active move" that facilitates friendly exchanges between the two nations. Responding to a question during a regular media briefing in Beijing, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that the decision demonstrates how the two nations "faithfully act" on the important common understandings reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their recent meeting in Tianjin.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also expressed Beijing's readiness to work with New Delhi to handle bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective.

"China and India will restart direct flights before the end of October this year. This is the latest move that demonstrates how the two sides faithfully act on the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin on August 31. It’s also an active move that facilitates the friendly exchanges of over 2.8 billion Chinese and Indian people.

"China stands ready to work with India to view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, be friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed, and realize a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant so as to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples and make due contributions to upholding peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond," Guo mentioned.

On October 2, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025.

The civil aviation authorities of the two countries have been engaged in technical-level discussions on resuming direct air services between the two countries and on a revised Air Services Agreement since the start of this year as part of the Indian government's approach towards gradual normalisation of relations between both countries.

"Following these discussions, it has now been agreed that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter season schedule, subject to commercial decision of the designated carriers from the two countries and fulfilment of all operational criteria," read a statement issued by the MEA.

"This agreement of the civil aviation authorities will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges," it added.

During their meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on August 31, PM Modi and Xi Jinping reflected on the pragmatic approach from both countries of prioritising dialogue, confidence-building measures, and regional engagement. The meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and building on recent progress in India-China relations.

"The two leaders noted with satisfaction the successful disengagement last year and the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border areas since then. They expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They recognised the important decisions taken by the two Special Representatives in their talks earlier this month, and agreed to further support their efforts," the MEA had stated after the meeting between the two leaders.

Previously, the two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia's Kazan in 2024. The breakthrough in dialogue was made possible after both sides reached an agreement on patrolling protocols along the 3,500-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), effectively easing a four-year border confrontation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also visited India in August for the Special Representatives (SR) talks on the boundary question and had said that Beijing attaches "great importance" to PM Modi's visit to Tianjin.

Earlier, the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, suspended for a long time, was restored for the summer of 2025. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has not taken place since 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent non-renewal of Yatra arrangements by the Chinese side.

--IANS

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