Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Restart: MEA Confirms Direct Flights between India and China

Synopsis

India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in summer 2025, following a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They also plan to restart direct flights and enhance bilateral relations, commemorating 75 years of diplomatic ties.

Key Takeaways

Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025.
Direct air services between India and China to be negotiated.
75th anniversary of diplomatic relations will be celebrated.
Public diplomacy efforts to improve mutual trust.
Focus on resolving economic and trade concerns.

New Delhi/Beijing, Jan 27 (NationPress) India and China have reached an agreement to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday.

The meeting, conducted under the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister framework, thoroughly assessed the status of India-China bilateral relations and came to a consensus on implementing several people-oriented measures to stabilize and improve ties, as previously agreed upon by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their rendezvous in Kazan last October.

According to the MEA, the appropriate mechanisms will further evaluate the procedures for the Yatra in accordance with existing agreements.

Both nations also tentatively agreed to resume direct flight services between them, with relevant technical authorities from both sides set to negotiate an updated framework promptly.

"They also concurred on organizing an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism to deliberate on the resumption of hydrological data provision and other collaborative efforts regarding trans-border rivers," stated a release from the MEA.

Given that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China, it was resolved by both parties to "intensify" public diplomacy initiatives to foster better awareness and restore mutual trust and confidence among their citizens.

Reviewing the existing frameworks for functional exchanges, both sides will also carry out several commemorative activities to celebrate the anniversary.

"It was resolved to progressively resume these dialogues and utilize them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern. Specific issues in economic and trade sectors were discussed to find resolutions and promote long-term policy transparency and predictability," the MEA stated.

In addition to meeting Wang Yi, who is a Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Office of Central Commission of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Misri held discussions with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, during his two-day visit to Beijing.

Meanwhile, the Chinese side noted that positive engagements have occurred at all levels, with the process of enhancing China-India relations accelerating since the meeting between PM Modi and Xi Jinping in Kazan last year.

"The two nations should take advantage of this opportunity, meet each other halfway, explore more substantive actions, and commit to mutual understanding, support, and achievement, instead of mutual suspicion, alienation, and consumption," a statement from the Chinese side read on Monday.

"The enhancement and development of China-India relations align perfectly with the fundamental interests of both countries and their populations, contributing to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of global South nations and fostering the contributions of both ancient civilizations to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in Asia and worldwide," it further added.