Modi–Xi Dialogue Paves Way For Resumption Of India, China Direct Air Links

India and China will restart direct flights between designated cities later this month, ending a suspension that lasted more than five years, External Affairs Ministry announced on Thursday (2 October).

The decision marks a cautious easing of bilateral tensions between the two nations, reported Reuters.

Since 2020, no direct flights have operated between India and China, despite China being India’s largest bilateral trade partner.

India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, said it will begin daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou on 26 October.

The airline also plans to launch a route connecting New Delhi with the Chinese city.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, a regional security forum.

At the meeting, PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that India and China were development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to strengthen trade ties amid global tariff uncertainty.

PM Modi also conveyed India’s commitment to improving ties and raised concerns about its widening trade deficit with China, which stands at nearly $99.2 billion.

He further emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability along their disputed border, where a clash in 2020 triggered a five-year military standoff.

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