India-China Relations: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Direct Flights Set to Resume

Two-Day Talks Yield Positive Outcomes, Focusing on Strengthening People-to-People Connections Post-COVID

January 28, 2025: India and China have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights between the two nations after a two-day foreign secretary-level dialogue. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that mechanisms would be established to finalize the modalities for these significant developments.

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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing to participate in the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism discussions. The talks followed the agreement reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan in October, aimed at stabilizing bilateral relations and fostering people-centric initiatives.

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The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, has been on hold since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Its resumption is seen as a critical step toward improving relations between the two nations, which had deteriorated after the Galwan Valley clashes.

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The meet also saw an in-principle agreement to reinstate direct air connectivity between India and China. Technical teams from both countries will collaborate to establish an updated framework for these flights at the earliest.

Additionally, discussions were held on resuming hydrological data sharing and cooperation on trans-border rivers. An expert-level mechanism meeting is planned to advance these efforts.

During his visit, Foreign Secretary Misri met with key Chinese officials, including Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China. The meetings emphasized rebuilding trust and fostering regional cooperation.

Tags:
India-China relations, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, direct flights, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, hydrological data sharing, Galwan clash, bilateral talks, trans-border rivers, regional cooperation, post-COVID diplomacy