India China Talks on Flights Resume 5 Years After Border Clash

India and China have conducted one round of discussions on restarting direct passenger air services, but no specific dates have been finalized yet, India announced on Monday. This comes as relations between the two countries gradually improve, five years after a deadly Himalayan border clash.

In January, the neighbors agreed to address trade and economic issues, a move seen as a potential boost for both nations’ aviation sectors. China's aviation recovery, in particular, has been slower than other countries’ post-pandemic rebound, making these talks a significant step forward.

Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said during a conference in New Delhi that the Indian and Chinese civil aviation ministries had met once but noted that "certain issues remain unresolved."

Tensions between the two nations escalated following the 2020 border conflict, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers. India responded by implementing investment restrictions on Chinese companies, banning hundreds of Chinese apps, and halting passenger air routes. However, direct cargo flights continued operating.

Relations began to stabilize after an October agreement to de-escalate a military standoff at the border. That same month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in talks during a summit in Russia, signaling the possibility of further cooperation.