Politics

China welcomes resumption of direct flights with India, calls it a positive step toward strengthening ties

The decision comes after a five-year hiatus and is expected to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges

October 9, 2025

India-China flights resume after five years

Beijing says the move reflects efforts by both nations to implement understandings reached between PM Modi & President Xi Jinping

China on Thursday hailed the resumption of direct flights with India after a five-year hiatus, calling it a positive step that reflects both nations’ commitment to improving bilateral relations.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the move demonstrated that both countries were “faithfully acting” on the understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in Tianjin on August 31.

“This is the latest move that demonstrates how the two sides faithfully act on the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Guo said. “It is also an active move that facilitates friendly exchanges between over 2.8 billion Chinese and Indian people.”

India had announced earlier this week that direct flights between the two countries would resume from October 26, ending a suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continued amid border tensions in eastern Ladakh.

According to officials, IndiGo and China Eastern Airlines will be the first carriers to restart operations, with IndiGo launching daily flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou from October 26 and plans to soon begin services on the Delhi–Guangzhou route, subject to regulatory approvals.

Guo said China was ready to work with India to “view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective,” adding that both sides should be “friends enjoying good-neighbourliness and partners helping each other succeed.” He also invoked a “cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant,” symbolizing harmony and mutual progress.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation in New Delhi said the decision followed “continuous technical-level engagement between civil aviation authorities” as part of broader efforts to normalize ties. The ministry added that the move would “greatly enhance air connectivity, support people-to-people exchanges, and contribute to strengthening economic collaboration between the two countries.”

Flight services between India and China were halted in 2020 due to the pandemic and remained suspended amid the prolonged border standoff. Relations between the two nations plunged to their lowest point since the 1962 war following the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020.

After multiple rounds of military and diplomatic negotiations, the two sides completed disengagement from several friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including Depsang and Demchok, by October last year.

The resumption of direct flights is seen as part of a gradual thaw, following other steps such as the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and renewed trade and tourism initiatives.

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