India and China Agree to Resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Direct Flights

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In a significant development, India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been halted since 2020 due to escalating border tensions. This decision was made during a special representative meeting held on January 26-27, 2025, in Beijing, attended by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The two sides have also reached a preliminary agreement to reinstate direct flights between the nations. Both countries aim to enhance bilateral relations by facilitating cross-border cooperation and promoting people-to-people exchanges. Accordingly, they plan to hold an early meeting to discuss the technical details associated with the resumption of air services.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement affirming that discussions will also include provisions for hydrological data sharing and increased diplomacy to strengthen ties ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China in 2025. The leaders of both countries are optimistic that upcoming commemorative activities will foster better mutual understanding and rebuild trust.

This agreement follows a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024, where peace along the border was emphasized. Notably, the agreement seeks to revisit pre-2020 patrolling norms along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which had been a point of conflict since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020.

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