India and China will restart direct flights between the countries this month, India's foreign ministry has said, marking a significant step towards normalizing ties.
There have been no direct flights between the two since 2020, following deadly troop clashes on their shared Himalayan border. However, over the last year, Delhi and Beijing have been working to rebuild relations, including steps to de-escalate tensions at the border.
India's largest budget airline, IndiGo, announced it would resume direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting from October 26.
The Indian foreign ministry noted that the resumption of flights would facilitate "people-to-people contact" and contribute to the gradual normalization of exchanges between the two nations.
India and China share a poorly defined border that stretches over 3,440 km (2,100 miles) and includes overlapping territorial claims. The conflict peaked in 2020 when troops clashed in the Galwan river valley, resulting in at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers dead—the first fatal encounter between the two since 1975.
In recent discussions, high-ranking officials from both countries have worked toward restoring ties, agreeing to patrolling arrangements to ease tensions along the disputed Himalayan border, and allowing Indian pilgrims to visit some areas of religious significance in Tibet.
The thaw in relations has been further propelled by India's strained relationship with the US, particularly regarding trade issues under former President Donald Trump. In August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that India and China should view themselves as partners instead of adversaries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation last month also underscored the commitment to normalizing ties, as he met with President Xi Jinping.
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