External affairs minister S Jaishankar & Chinese FM Wang Yi discuss resuming direct flights | India News

NEW DELHI: Direct flights between India and China may finally resume for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The issue was discussed between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Communist Party of China Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
In a statement from Rio de Janeiro, the Indian ministry of external affairs said: “Among the steps discussed were the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, direct flights between India and China, and media exchanges.”
Travel between the two countries has been taking place through third nations or locations like Singapore or Hong Kong. There is significant demand for travel, as evident from the surge in Chinese visa applicants at VFS centers.
“The ministers recognized that the disengagement in our border areas had contributed to the maintenance of peace and tranquility. The discussions focused on the next steps in India-China relations. It was agreed that a meeting of the special representatives and the foreign secretary–vice minister mechanism will take place soon,” the statement said.
“On the global situation and international issues, (Jaishankar) noted that India and China have both differences and convergences. We have worked constructively in the Brics and SCO frameworks. Our cooperation in the G20 has also been evident. (Jaishankar) said that we are strongly committed to a multipolar world, including a multipolar Asia. Where India is concerned, its foreign policy has been principled and consistent, marked by independent thought and action. We are against unilateral approaches to establish dominance. India does not view its relationships through the prism of other nations,” it added.
The statement further noted: “Foreign minister Wang Yi concurred with EAM that India-China relations have particular salience in world politics. He remarked that our leaders had agreed in Kazan on the way forward. The two ministers emphasized that stabilizing ties, managing differences, and taking the next steps should remain the focus.”