India and China Hail Growing Ties in Response to Global Shake-Up

India's prime minister and China's foreign minister have hailed "steady" progress in their countries' fractious relationship, agreeing to resume trade and other ties, as well as work towards resolving the Himalayan border dispute, amid a global geopolitical shake-up instigated by Donald Trump's tariff regime.

- Helen Davidson

According to statements from China's foreign ministry, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights as well as issuing visas to journalists and facilitating business and cultural exchanges.

On social media, India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, noted "respect for each other's interests and sensitiveness", while China's foreign ministry said the countries had entered a "steady development track" and should "trust and support" each other.

The visit by Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, to Delhi came ahead of an expected visit to Beijing by Modi to meet China's leader, Xi Jinping, in October. It will be Modi's first trip to China since 2018.

Relations between the two nuclear powers plummeted in 2020 when a border dispute in the remote Himalayas turned deadly. The worst episode of violence between the neighbours in decades left an official death toll of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.