Beijing. China on Friday said it is willing to look at its relations with India from a strategic and long-term perspective and the resumption of flights between the two countries from Sunday is a positive step towards promoting friendly exchange between the 2.8 billion people. India had announced on October 2 that direct flights to China would resume operations from October 26. Subsequently, IndiGo said that it will resume operations of flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou from October 26 and Delhi to Guangzhou from November 10.
Chinese airline ‘China Eastern’ has announced that it will restart flight operations from Shanghai to Delhi from November 9. Asked about the resumption of flight operations between the two countries from Sunday after a gap of five years, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference here that this is the latest progress towards implementing the agreement reached between the two countries. He said it is also a positive measure to facilitate friendly exchanges between the more than 2.8 billion people of China and India.
China ready to work together with India
He said China is willing to work together with India to view China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, promote bilateral relations, bring greater benefits to the two countries and their people, and make appropriate contributions to maintaining peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.
Flights closed after Covid-19 pandemic
In 2020, flight services between the two countries were suspended following the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, these were not restored in view of the border standoff that lasted for more than four years in eastern Ladakh. In his statement during the Tianjin meeting with President Xi Jinping on August 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that resumption of direct flight operations is being considered.
Relations at dangerously low level in June 2020
Following the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020, India-China relations reached their lowest level since the 1962 war. After several diplomatic and military talks, both sides had withdrawn their troops from several friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
In October last year, both sides had reached an agreement to disengage troops from the last two friction points, Depsang and Demchok. Days after the agreement was finalized, Modi and Xi held talks in Kazan and took several decisions to improve ties. Over the past few months, both sides have taken several steps to improve ties, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.