India and China Advance Steps to Resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025: MEA
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Synopsis
India and China are progressing towards the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after recent consultations between the countries' Foreign Ministries in Beijing. Positive developments since their last high-level meetings are paving the way for strengthened bilateral relations.
Key Takeaways
- India and China are set to resume the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025.
- High-level meetings have contributed to stabilizing bilateral relations.
- Efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges and direct flights are underway.
- Discussions on cross-border cooperation and border management are ongoing.
- Preparations for the next Special Representatives meeting are in progress.
Beijing, March 26 (NationPress) India and China have achieved significant advancements regarding the procedures to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following an official consultation between the Foreign Ministries of India and China, which took place in Beijing on Wednesday.
Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the MEA, conducted a consultative meeting with Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this meeting, both sides reviewed the actions taken to execute the strategic direction and the specific steps agreed upon during the meeting between the Foreign Secretary and the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister in January 2025 aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding bilateral relations.
They acknowledged the positive developments in bilateral relations since the leaders of India and China met in October 2024. In the meantime, the Foreign Ministers have met twice, and the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question have held their 23rd meeting. These high-level discussions have provided strategic guidance to stabilize and further enhance relations, according to a statement from the MEA.
The two nations expressed their commitment to continue efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for the resumption of direct flights, media interactions, think-tank collaborations, and the celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Both parties have made further strides towards the modalities for resuming the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025.
The MEA also noted that both sides reviewed the planned exchanges and activities for this year, discussing a step-by-step resumption of dialogue mechanisms to address priority interests and concerns, thereby moving towards a more stable and predictable relationship.
On Tuesday, India and China thoroughly reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas and the early resumption of cross-border cooperation, including matters related to trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, during the 33rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in Beijing.
While Das led the Indian delegation, Hong Liang, Director General of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed the Chinese delegation. The MEA remarked that the meeting occurred in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
According to the MEA, peace and tranquility at the border are vital for the smooth progression of overall bilateral relations. Both sides explored various measures and proposals to implement the decisions made during the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question in Beijing in December 2024 and to advance effective border management.
Both nations committed to maintaining and strengthening relevant diplomatic and military frameworks for this purpose. They exchanged views on the early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
During the meeting, both countries pledged to collaborate on substantial preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Special Representatives (SR), which is set to take place in India later this year. The Indian delegation leader also paid a courtesy visit to Hong Lei, China's Assistant Foreign Minister.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing on January 26-27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism, after which both countries announced their plan to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025.
The meeting aimed to review the current state of India-China bilateral relations, as agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan last October.
During their discussions, Foreign Secretary Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong concurred on taking certain people-centric actions to stabilize and enhance ties. Both parties also agreed, in principle, to restore direct air services between the two nations, with relevant technical authorities from both sides negotiating an updated framework promptly.
