In a significant development, China and India have agreed to resume direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The decision comes after a productive meeting between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri in Beijing on Monday. The discussions focused on implementing the common understandings reached at the recent meeting in Kazan, with both sides expressing a commitment to enhancing China-India relations.
Key measures agreed upon include India's full support for China's role as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the two nations' intent to utilize bilateral and multilateral occasions to strengthen strategic communication and political mutual trust.
Additionally, China and India have set their sights on commemorating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025, planning media exchanges, think tank collaborations, Track II talks, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
The resumption of direct flights aims to facilitate personnel exchanges and mutual dispatch of journalists, paving the way for increased connectivity and cooperation between the two countries. Moreover, plans are underway to promote the pilgrimage of Indian devotees to sacred sites in the Xizang region of China by 2025.
Both nations also reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation on cross-border rivers, maintaining communication on upcoming expert-level meetings to address shared concerns.
The Chinese side emphasized the importance of viewing China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, adopting an open and constructive attitude to promote dialogue, exchanges, and practical cooperation, thereby enhancing trust and guiding public opinion towards a positive trajectory.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
