India and China have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct air services between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday. The decision came after a meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which takes place annually between June and September, has been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cessation of yatra arrangements by China. The pilgrimage typically follows two main routes—through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand (since 1981) and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim (since 2015). The yatra will resume in the summer of 2025, with both nations agreeing to discuss the modalities through an existing framework.
Additionally, the two countries have agreed to hold a meeting under the India-China Expert-Level Mechanism to resume the exchange of hydrological data related to trans-border rivers, including addressing concerns over China’s dam projects in the upstream Brahmaputra river region.
Both countries also confirmed plans to restart direct air services, which were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
During the meeting, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the need for both nations to work in harmony, focusing on mutual support and understanding, and moving away from suspicion and alienation. Wang also expressed his hope that India and China would explore more substantive measures to deepen their cooperation.
Earlier, Misri met Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party’s International Department, which plays a crucial role in shaping China’s foreign policy. The relationship between India and China has improved in recent months, marked by high-level discussions, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia in October 2024.
