India and China will restart direct passenger flights later this month, ending a four-year suspension imposed after deadly border clashes in 2020.
In an announcement on Thursday, India’s foreign ministry said the move would “further facilitate people-to-people contact” and contribute to the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges” between the two Asian giants.
The resumption begins on 26 October, when IndiGo, India’s largest budget carrier, will operate direct services between Kolkata and Guangzhou. More routes are expected to follow as ties improve.
Direct flights were halted in June 2020, after troops from both sides clashed in the Galwan Valley along the Himalayan frontier, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops. It was the most violent confrontation in over four decades, pushing bilateral relations into a deep freeze.
Since then, both governments have taken cautious steps to ease tensions. Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have been held, alongside symbolic gestures. China recently allowed Indian pilgrims into sites it designates as part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, while India resumed visa services for Chinese tourists and agreed to reopen discussions on border trade.
The push towards normalisation has also been visible at the political level. In August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he met President Xi Jinping. Both leaders pledged to move relations away from confrontation and towards cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also travelled to Delhi earlier this year, urging the two nations to view each other as “partners, not adversaries.” Meanwhile, Beijing’s envoy to India, Xu Feihong, criticised the United States for “bullying” countries with steep tariffs, a stance seen as aligning closer with India’s trade frustrations with Washington.
The revival of air connectivity is being seen as a confidence-building measure, signalling that despite unresolved border disputes, New Delhi and Beijing are seeking to restore channels of engagement across trade, diplomacy, and people-to-people contact.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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