format(webp))
China and India have decided to restart direct commercial flights after a five-year break. This marks a new chapter in their travel connections!
China and India will resume direct flights for the first time since 2020, after suspensions due to the pandemic and political tensions. This move marks improved relations between the two countries. China will also reopen Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar to Indian pilgrims later this year.
China and India to Resume Direct Commercial Flights After Five Years
China and India have agreed to resume direct commercial flights for the first time since early 2020, signaling improved ties between the two countries. Flight services were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political tensions that followed.
The announcement came after a meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. India's Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the two countries have reached a preliminary agreement, with additional details to be finalized soon.
Additionally, China confirmed that Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet will be reopened for Indian pilgrims later this year. Both sites are significant in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon, making them popular pilgrimage destinations.
Historical Context
After the pandemic-related flight suspensions, tensions escalated at the contested border in the Himalayas, leading to a violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in June 2020. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.
The 2,100-mile (3,379-kilometer) border, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), remains a source of dispute, with both countries maintaining a heavy military presence. Despite this, recent diplomatic efforts have sought to ease tensions, including a rare meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BRICS summit in Russia last October.
Currently, there are direct flights from several Indian cities to Hong Kong, but no direct flights to mainland China.
Tourists' Excitement.
The announcement has sparked excitement, especially on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where many users expressed their enthusiasm for the resumption of flights.
Anayat Ali, an Indian PhD student in Shanghai, shared his excitement, noting that direct flights would help him visit his family more often, save money, and avoid long layovers. Previously, travelers had to transit through cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, adding six to ten hours to their travel time.
While Chinese authorities had urged the resumption of direct flights, India had been hesitant, with some on Weibo expressing doubts about the immediate implementation of the agreement.
“It’s an agreement in principle,” one user said, reflecting cautious optimism.
Link source:
What's Your Reaction?
