India-China agree to rebuild ties through people-centric engagements

India and China have agreed to expedite various measures to improve bilateral relations, including resuming direct air services between the two countries. This agreement was reached during a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. China’s Vice Foreign Minister is on a two-day visit to India.

The Foreign Secretary expressed hope for the early conclusion of an updated Air Services Agreement. The two sides further agreed to take practical steps for visa facilitation and exchanges between media and think-tanks. Mr Misri appreciated the Chinese side’s cooperation for the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. He noted the discussion held in April this year in the meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism for



cooperation in trans-border rivers for the resumption of the provision of hydrological data and other cooperation, and hoped for progress on this. 

During their meeting, Mr Misri and Mr Weidong positively assessed the activities planned under the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China and agreed to facilitate the same. They also agreed to hold certain functional dialogues, including in the economic and trade areas, to discuss and resolve specific issues of concern. The two countries reviewed the developments in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Beijing in January this year and agreed to continue to stabilise and rebuild ties with a priority on people-centric engagements.