India and China will restart direct flights between the countries this month, India's foreign ministry has stated, in another step towards gradually normalizing ties that have been strained since 2020. There have been no direct flights between the two nations since the fallout from deadly troop clashes at their shared Himalayan border.
IndiGo, India's budget airline, announced on Thursday that it will commence direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting on October 26. This resumption is seen as a vital development in rekindling people-to-people connections and improving bilateral exchanges.
The Indian foreign ministry highlighted that the re-establishment of flights is aimed at enhancing mutual contact as both countries seek to mend ties that have been strained since a clash in the Galwan river valley three years ago. The incident resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers and marked the first deadly confrontation in decades.
Since then, efforts to de-escalate tensions have included multiple rounds of diplomatic meetings and agreements on patrolling arrangements along the disputed borders. Recently, both nations have taken additional steps such as allowing Indian pilgrims to visit religious sites in Tibet, restarting visa services for Chinese tourists, and discussing trade through designated passes.
This evolving relationship comes amidst a backdrop of India's complicated ties with the United States, which have influenced its diplomatic strategy towards China. High-level visits between officials from both countries have signaled a commitment to viewing each other as partners rather than rivals.
As India and China prepare for the commencement of these flights, the international community watches closely for signs of a renewed friendship and collaboration between the two populous nations.
