India and China agree to resume flights and trade

China’s FM Wang Yi at 15th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, July 11, 2025.
Reuters

India and China on Tuesday announced plans to resume direct flights and enhance trade and investment as they cautiously rebuild ties following their 2020 border clash, though key border issues remain unresolved.

The announcement came at the close of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's two-day visit to New Delhi, where he met Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the 24th round of talks on their longstanding border dispute.

The discussions included troop withdrawals, border delimitation, and boundary affairs, but no major breakthroughs were reported.

Both sides agreed to meet again in China in 2026. Direct flights, suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be resumed, though no date was set.

"Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X after meeting Wang.

Wang Yi stressed that strengthening mutual trust and expanding cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both nations.

India also raised concerns about China’s Yarlung Zangbo dam in Tibet, which could affect water flow into India and Bangladesh.

China maintains the project poses minimal environmental risk, but India and Bangladesh have sought greater transparency. Wang also addressed India’s requests for fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel boring machines.

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