India, China To Resume Direct Flights By October After Renewed Diplomatic Engagement Breakthrough

The MEA said Thursday that travellers can expect direct flights between India and China to resume by late October 2025, following months of behind-the-scenes technical discussions.

According to the MEA, the agreement permits direct air services to operate between designated points in India and China in line with the winter schedule.

The restart of direct air services will rely on the airlines’ commercial plans and fulfilment of operational requirements.

The ministry stressed that this step will foster people-to-people engagement and promote the gradual normalisation of India-China relations.

The development comes in the wake of ongoing diplomatic engagement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Indian officials in September for Special Representatives discussions on boundary issues.

Furthermore, underlining PM Modi’s visit to Tianjin and noting that robust India-China relations support long-term national and regional stability.

The two countries continued efforts to improve their strained ties through a series of high-level meetings and practical agreements.

Leaders from both nations used recent engagements to highlight progress while stressing the importance of long-term stability.

The latest round of dialogue focused on strengthening bilateral relations and building upon the momentum achieved over the past year.

A key breakthrough came when negotiators from both sides finalised new patrolling protocols along the 3,500-kilometre Line of Actual Control (LAC).

This agreement effectively resolved the border standoff that had persisted for four years.

Flights Mark Renewed Bilateral Engagement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping reviewed the developments during their meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.

The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the two leaders welcomed last year’s disengagement, appreciated the calm that has since prevailed on the border, and pledged to continue working toward a fair and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary dispute.

They also acknowledged the role of the Special Representatives, who reached important decisions earlier in September and promised to support their ongoing efforts.

China reinforced its commitment through Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India. He joined National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for Special Representatives’ talks and underscored that Beijing places ‘great importance’ on Prime Minister Modi’s Tianjin visit.

Wang Yi emphasised that both history and current realities underscore the importance of a stable and healthy India-China relationship.

He argued that such ties serve not only the fundamental interests of the two countries but also the wider aspirations of developing nations.

As part of the broader thaw, the two governments also restored the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025, after years of suspension.

Together, these moves signal that both sides intend to keep dialogue active while gradually steering relations back toward normalcy.

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