VOI World/ Desk
Direct flights between India and China resumed after a five-year suspension, marking a significant shift in their diplomatic and economic engagement. The first flight, operated by India’s largest carrier, will depart from Kolkata to Guangzhou, restoring a crucial trade and people-to-people link suspended after the Covid-19 pandemic and border clashes in 2020.
The move comes amid a gradual easing of tensions between the two Asian giants, who remain strategic rivals but have displayed signs of rapprochement. The Indian government described the air-link renewal as a step towards broader bilateral normalisation, enhancing ties in tourism, commerce and regional connectivity.
For India, the resumption holds multiple implications: it opens new corridors for trade and travel, provides logistical relief for businesses, and reinforces its role as a regional hub. Kolkata, with its historic linkages to China, is expected to benefit from renewed flows of goods and visitors.
Beyond economics, the restoration of direct flights carries symbolic weight. It suggests that under the leadership of Indian PM Modi, India is seeking more balanced neighbouring-policy choices and gradual engagement with China while maintaining strategic autonomy. A reliable air-link is not just about tourism or commerce; it is a barometer of diplomatic patience and pragmatic connectivity.
This development also comes at a time when India’s trade deficit with China remains high and complex security issues along the border persist. The renewed air access will be watched closely as a test of whether practical cooperation can advance alongside strategic competition.
