Tue Nov 19 14:26:13 UTC 2024: ## India and China Signal Warming Ties, Discuss Flight Resumption and Pilgrimage
**Rio de Janeiro, Brazil** – India and China have indicated a significant thaw in their relationship, with both countries expressing a commitment to stabilizing ties and resolving outstanding issues. During a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi discussed the resumption of direct flights between the two nations and the restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage.
The meeting, the first high-level engagement since the completion of the disengagement process in the Ladakh region, marked a positive step forward. Both ministers acknowledged the positive contribution of the disengagement to maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas. Direct flights were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was also halted.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that other areas of cooperation discussed included data sharing on trans-border rivers and media exchanges. Minister Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to a multipolar world and its principled, consistent foreign policy, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed that India-China relations are crucial for global stability.
Following the meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian declared that Sino-Indian relations are at “a new starting point,” highlighting the recent successful meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Both sides have agreed to focus on stabilizing ties, managing differences, and taking steps towards further cooperation. The spokesperson emphasized the need to build mutual trust through dialogue, address concerns with sincerity, and ensure the relationship develops stably and healthily. The resumption of the pilgrimage and flights represents a tangible step toward achieving this goal.
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