India, China chart path to normalcy with Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, flights

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holds talks with Chinese ministers Wang Yi and Sun Weidong

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

In a significant move to restore strained bilateral ties, India and China on Monday announced several measures, including resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025 and restoring direct flights between the two countries.

The decisions were finalized following talks between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing.

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two sides reviewed their bilateral relations comprehensively and agreed to take "people-centric steps" to stabilize and rebuild ties.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, suspended since 2020, is set to resume in the summer of 2025. "The relevant mechanism will discuss the modalities for doing so as per existing agreements," the MEA statement said. The pilgrimage holds significant religious importance for Indian citizens and has been a key aspect of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The two sides also agreed to resume direct air services, which were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date,” the MEA noted.