New Delhi: india and China have taken significant steps to improve their relationship by agreeing to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights. This decision was made during a two-day foreign secretary-level meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Resume
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, is set to restart in the summer. The pilgrimage has been on hold since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Relations between the two countries further complicated efforts to resume the yatra, particularly after the Galwan Valley clash. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the details of the pilgrimage will be worked out through existing mechanisms.
Focus on Bilateral Relations
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing to attend the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism talks. During the discussions, both nations reviewed their bilateral ties, building on the commitments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their October meeting in Kazan. The talks emphasized people-centric initiatives to rebuild trust and stabilize relations.
Resumption of Direct Flights
Another key outcome of the talks was the agreement to restart direct air services between India and China. Technical teams from both sides will meet soon to finalize the framework for resuming flights. This development is expected to boost connectivity and strengthen economic and cultural exchanges.
Cooperation on Trans-Border Rivers
The two countries also decided to hold an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism. This meeting will focus on trans-border river cooperation, including the resumption of hydrological data sharing.
High-Level Meetings
During his visit, Foreign Secretary Misri held discussions with senior Chinese leaders. These included Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo and Director of the Office of the Central Commission of Foreign Affairs, and Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
A Positive Step Forward
The agreement to resume the yatra and direct flights marks an important step in stabilizing India-China relations. These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to fostering mutual trust and cooperation between the two nations.
This renewed focus on collaboration is expected to benefit people on both sides and pave the way for stronger ties in the future.
