India and China will restart direct flights between the countries this month, India's foreign ministry has announced, in another step towards ties being gradually normalized.
There have been no direct flights between the two countries since 2020, following deadly troop clashes on their shared Himalayan border.
However, over the past year, Delhi and Beijing have been working towards rebuilding their relationship, including steps to de-escalate border tensions.
On Thursday, the airline IndiGo revealed plans to restart direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting on October 26.
India's foreign ministry stated that the resumption of flights would further facilitate people-to-people contact and contribute to gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges.
The relationship between India and China has long been complicated due to territorial disputes along their 3,440 km (2,100 miles) border. A major military confrontation in 2020 resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, leading to a significant freeze in diplomatic interactions.
In the last year, both nations have made efforts to rebuild this frayed relationship. This included multiple rounds of talks between high-ranking officials.
In October 2022, both nations agreed on patrolling arrangements to alleviate tensions along the controversial Himalayan border.
This year, China has permitted Indian pilgrims to visit certain religious sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while India resumed visa services for Chinese tourists and agreed to discussion for border trade.
Moreover, India's deteriorating relations with the US over tariffs have prompted a reevaluation of ties with China. In August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a summit where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, reiterating a commitment to normalizing relations.
