India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this summer, marking a significant development in bilateral relations. The decision was made during Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s recent two-day visit to China for the foreign secretary-vice-minister mechanism meeting. This pilgrimage, halted since the onset of COVID-19 and the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, will now proceed under existing agreements, with discussions on logistics and modalities to follow.
In a reciprocal move, India has given an in-principle nod to China’s request to resume direct flights between the two nations. Technical authorities from both sides will now negotiate a framework for restarting air services, a step aimed at facilitating people-to-people exchanges, including media and think-tank interactions.
The two countries also agreed to convene an early meeting of the expert-level mechanism on transborder rivers. As China is an upper riparian state, hydrological data sharing and river management are critical issues requiring careful negotiation. This agreement signals a willingness to cooperate on sensitive matters.
The talks also included discussions on strengthening economic and trade ties by addressing specific concerns and promoting long-term policy transparency. Both nations agreed to gradually revive functional exchange mechanisms to tackle priority areas of mutual interest.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of mutual understanding and collaboration. He urged both nations to “meet each other halfway” and adopt measures that foster trust and support instead of suspicion and alienation. Echoing this sentiment, Beijing’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, highlighted the need for commitment to mutual achievement and improved ties.
The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights represents a thaw in relations between the two nations, focusing on cooperation and people-to-people connections while addressing key bilateral issues.
