During their meeting at the G20 summit in Brazil, the foreign ministers of China and India have engaged in discussions regarding the potential resumption of direct flights between their nations, a development anticipated to enhance trade, tourism, and cultural interactions.
Direct flights between India and China, along with the pilgrimage, were halted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and have yet to be reinstated, even though the restrictions were lifted several years ago.
The ministers acknowledged that the disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Himalayan border region where military confrontations occurred in 2020, has played a significant role in maintaining peace and stability.
This ministerial dialogue followed an agreement reached several weeks prior between New Delhi and Beijing to address a protracted border dispute that has persisted for four years.
According to a statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions centered on the future trajectory of India-China relations. Among the initiatives considered were the revival of pilgrimages to the sacred sites of Mansarovar Lake and Mount Kailash in Tibet, data sharing concerning trans-border rivers, media exchanges, and the reinstatement of direct flights between India and China.
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, emphasized that the productive discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the recent event in Kazan, Russia, and the subsequent “restart” of bilateral relations align with the “fundamental interests of the two peoples, the expectations of Global South nations, and the appropriate trajectory of history.”
Wang underscored the importance of both parties adhering to the agreements made by their national leaders, honoring each other’s core interests, and fostering mutual trust through ongoing dialogue and communication.
The truce between India and China was declared following more than 30 rounds of discussions at both military and diplomatic levels.
During the G20 meeting, both parties underscored their dedication to a multipolar world and recognized the significance of India-China relations for the global community, particularly for the Global South. Jaishankar emphasized New Delhi’s strong commitment to a multipolar Asia.
Wang highlighted that as neighboring nations and major developing economies, China and India share more common interests than differences. He urged both countries to perceive each other’s development as an opportunity and to collaborate towards achieving mutual development.
