India and China agree to resume direct flights: Vikram Misri meets Sun Weidong; to rebuild ties with ‘people-centric engagements’ | India News

Sun Weidong (mfa.gov.cn) and Vikram Misri (ANI)

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri met Chinese vice foreign minister Sun Weidong in New Delhi on Friday in a renewed effort to improve bilateral relations between the two countries. Weidong is visiting India for two days.During the meeting, the neighbours decided to rebuild ties by prioritising ‘people-centric engagements’, including resuming direct flights. The discussions reviewed progress since the last meeting between the countries, which was held in Beijing in January. Misri expressed appreciation for China’s cooperation in facilitating the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year, a significant development welcomed by Indian pilgrims. Last year, both countries reached a 6-point consensus on the same. Misri also referenced the discussions held in April 2025 under the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers, where both sides agreed on sharing hydrological data and other forms of cooperation, and hoped for progress. The talks highlighted accelerating the resumption of direct air connectivity and hoped to conclude an updated Air Service Agreement. Both sides agreed to take steps to ease the procedures for visa application and promote exchanges between media, scholars, and think tanks.The two countries also positively reviewed the activities planned for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Additionally, India and China have decided to convene functional dialogues in areas such as trade and economics, aimed at deepening engagement and cooperation across various fronts. India on Thursday had said it is in touch with the Chinese side as China had raised export controls on rare earth related items. “We are in touch with the Chinese side, both here in Delhi as well as in Beijing to bring predictability in the supply chain for trade, consistent with international practices,”, the MEA spokesperson had said. Earlier in April, President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met with their Chinese counterparts, Xi Jinping and Li Qiang, respectively, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Vikram Misri had joined an event hosted by the Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong and said that the event would become even more “meaningful” if the oaths taken by the countries are translated into tangible actions.