India and China have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has been suspended since 2020, following a meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides agreed to discuss the necessary modalities for the Yatra resumption through the relevant mechanisms, in line with existing agreements.
The two countries also agreed in principle to reinstate direct flights between India and China, a move that aims to enhance connectivity and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. Both sides highlighted the importance of fostering ties between media, think tanks, and other sectors, with the goal of promoting deeper cooperation.
As part of ongoing discussions, India and China decided to convene an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism to address the resumption of hydrological data sharing and other aspects of cooperation concerning trans-border rivers.In the economic sphere, both countries discussed existing challenges and agreed on the need for greater policy transparency and predictability to resolve issues in trade and investment.
Vikram Misri, who is on a two-day visit to Beijing, is participating in the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism meeting, which is aimed at advancing India-China relations. This dialogue, agreed upon at the leadership level, will cover political, economic, and people-to-people exchanges.
India has consistently maintained that the normalization of ties with China hinges on ensuring peace along the border. In recent developments, Indian and Chinese militaries have resumed joint patrolling activities in the Demchok and Depsang areas, following the successful completion of disengagement efforts, marking the first such cooperation in over four years.
This series of diplomatic steps signals a renewed commitment to restoring and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries after a period of tensions.
