India and China have held a round of talks on resuming direct passenger air services, but no dates have been fixed yet, New Delhi said on Monday, as relations continued to thaw five years after a deadly border clash.
The neighbours agreed in January to work on resolving trade and economic differences, in a move expected to boost their aviation sectors, particularly China’s which has lagged other countries’ in rebounding from the COVID pandemic.
“The civil aviation ministry and our counterpart in China have had one round of meetings,” Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said at a conference organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi.
There were still some issues to resolve, he added, without going into detail.
Relations soured between India and China in the wake of the 2020 clash between troops along their border in the Himalayas, which killed at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese.
India imposed restrictions on Chinese companies investing in the country, banned hundreds of popular apps and cut passenger routes, although direct cargo flights continued.
Relations have improved since an agreement in October to ease a military standoff on the mountainous border, the same month that President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks in Russia.
Much will depend upon how the border issue plays out with the summers approaching and passes opening up. Maintenance of forward posts is easier in this season. However, this is also the season when impassable areas become more trafficable.
Direct air services are considered essential by a large majority of business people who have cross-border investments, or are into import/export. Ease of travel would also help in increasing the tourist traffic in both countries. Cultural affinities and geographical proximity favour tourist movement by air, as such.
Team BharatShakti
(With Inputs from Reuters)
