In a significant diplomatic development, India and China have agreed to resume direct air services and enhance people-centric initiatives, including visa facilitation and cultural exchanges, as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in New Delhi on June 12 between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who was visiting for the latest round of the China-India Vice Foreign Minister–Foreign Secretary Dialogue. Sun also met with India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides “reviewed the developments in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Beijing on 27 January 2025 and agreed to continue to stabilize and rebuild ties with priority on people-centric engagements.”
A key outcome of the talks was the mutual decision to expedite efforts to restart direct flight services between the two countries. Foreign Secretary Misri also called for the early finalization of a revised Air Services Agreement to support increased connectivity.
Both nations also agreed to take practical steps for visa facilitation and to encourage more exchanges between media outlets and think tanks. The initiatives come as part of a broader push to foster deeper engagement between the people of both countries and improve mutual understanding.
Vice Foreign Minister Sun emphasized that China-India relations have maintained a “hard-won momentum of improvement” and called for both sides to manage differences wisely, boost political trust, and advance cooperation in various fields. He cited the need to implement the understandings reached between the two leaders during their meeting in Kazan and to approach ties from a long-term strategic perspective.
The meeting also paved the way for preparations for the 24th round of the Special Representatives' Meeting on the China-India Boundary Question, which will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
Foreign Secretary Misri thanked China for facilitating the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage for Indian devotees, which is set to resume on June 30 after a five-year hiatus. He also referenced discussions from the April 2025 Expert Level Mechanism meeting on transboundary rivers, expressing hope for renewed cooperation on hydrological data sharing.
Looking ahead, both sides expressed optimism about activities marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and China and pledged full support for the commemorative events. They also agreed to hold functional dialogues, particularly in economic and trade sectors, to resolve specific concerns and build on the January 2025 commitment to address bilateral issues constructively.
During his visit, Sun also conveyed condolences over the air crash that occurred in Gujarat on June 12, expressing sympathy to the Indian side.
The dialogue signals a continued commitment from both nations to restore stability in ties and broaden areas of cooperation amid regional and global challenges. (Source: China Daily)
