China and India announced plans to resume direct flights, marking a series of diplomatic advancements, as reported by state media on Wednesday. This development comes as China’s foreign minister concludes his visit to India and prepares to travel to Pakistan.
During Wang Yi’s visit, Beijing and New Delhi agreed to further discussions on their contested border, restart the issuance of tourism visas, and enhance trade relations.
In discussions on the border with Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval, both nations agreed to “explore opportunities for advancing boundary demarcation negotiations” and committed to reopening three border trade markets, according to a Xinhua report.
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Relations between the two most populous nations deteriorated after a fatal border clash in 2020. However, tensions eased last October when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time in five years at a summit in Russia.
Modi plans to visit China in August, marking his first trip since 2018.
Wang is now set to visit Pakistan, India’s rival and one of China’s closest allies in the region.
“China considers both India and Pakistan important neighbors. We are eager to foster friendly cooperation with both, and we hope differences can be resolved amicably,” stated foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing.
She referred to China and Pakistan as “ironclad friends and all-weather strategic partners.”
China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan for large-scale transport, energy, and infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road initiative.
In May, Pakistan employed Chinese military technology, including jets, against India during a brief conflict that resulted in over 70 casualties. This conflict arose from an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, an accusation Pakistan denies.
Kashmir is a region claimed entirely by both India and Pakistan, who have engaged in several wars over it since their 1947 independence from British rule.
In discussions with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in May, Wang expressed China’s support for Islamabad in defending “national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” shortly after a ceasefire agreement between Islamabad and New Delhi.
Wang will remain in Pakistan until Friday to participate in the sixth round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, as announced by China’s foreign ministry.
