Direct aviation resumes between India and China

Following a halt of five years.

, and Administrator

2025 September 11 . 2:58 PM

1 min read

Direct air connection between India and China is reinstated

Direct aviation resumes between India and China

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held in Chinese Tianjin on August 31, 2021, marked a significant milestone as India and China announced the resumption of direct air communication between the two countries, a hiatus that has been in effect for more than five years.

The announcement was made during the SCO summit, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years. The resumption of flights is considered a positive step towards normalising diplomatic relations between the two countries, which have been strained since deadly clashes on the border between Chinese and Indian military forces in 2020.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to New Delhi in August 2021 played a crucial role in reaching this agreement. However, it's important to note that the resumption of direct air traffic between India and China is not directly related to the tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump on Indian goods.

The tariffs, which were related to India's purchase of oil from Russia, are a separate issue from the border disputes and the resumption of flights. Media reports have suggested a thaw in relations amid the trade war initiated by Trump, but the specific details about the tariffs were not mentioned in the earlier bullet points about the deterioration of relations between India and China.

The visit by Wang Yi occurred amid Trump's decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stated they would work towards resolving border disputes during the SCO summit.

While the exact dates for the resumption of flights between India and China have not been announced, this development is a positive step towards strengthening bilateral ties and fostering closer cooperation between the two nations.