- By Imran Zafar
- Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India and China held initial discussions on resuming direct passenger flights, but no date has been finalised, the Indian government said on Monday. The talks mark a continued thaw in bilateral ties nearly five years after a deadly military clash in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley disrupted diplomatic and economic relations.
Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam confirmed that one round of talks had been held between India’s civil aviation ministry and its Chinese counterpart. He made the statement during a conference organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi. While acknowledging progress, Vualnam said certain issues still need resolution, without elaborating further.
Passenger flight operations between the two countries were suspended in June 2020, following a violent confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops along the Himalayan border that left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. In response, India imposed multiple restrictions on Chinese investments, banned several Chinese mobile applications and discontinued direct passenger flights, although cargo flights remained operational.
Signs of a diplomatic thaw emerged in October 2023 when both countries agreed to ease military tensions along the contested border. That same month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Russia for bilateral talks.
In January 2025, the two neighbours agreed to work toward resolving trade and economic issues, a move expected to benefit their aviation sectors. China’s international aviation recovery has notably lagged behind other nations post-COVID, making the resumption of flights with India a potentially significant step for both sides.
(With Reuters Inputs)