India and China to Resume Direct Flights After Five Years

India and China have agreed in principle to restart direct commercial flights, which have been suspended since early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rising border tensions.

The agreement was announced after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Both sides are expected to finalise the details soon.

China also said it would reopen Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet to Indian pilgrims this year. These sites are considered holy by several faiths in India.

The move comes as relations between the two countries show signs of improvement following years of tension, including a deadly border clash in 2020.

Travellers currently face long layovers to fly between India and mainland China, often changing planes in cities like Bangkok or Hong Kong. A direct flight between New Delhi and Beijing used to take around seven hours.

Many welcomed the news online, with Indian students in China saying it would save time and money. Some social media users in China also expressed hope of visiting India soon.

While talks are ongoing, the announcement marks a step forward in restoring people-to-people ties between the two neighbours.