India-China Ties Get a Boost as Direct Flights Return
What Happened
Ahead of a meeting between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit, China announced the resumption of China Southern Airlines' Guangzhou-New Delhi service from September 21 after a six-year suspension. Chinese envoy Xu Feihong also said Beijing would strengthen cooperation with India, properly manage differences and promote "good-neighbourliness.".
Key Takeaways
The flight restart and conciliatory messaging are the latest signs of improving India-China relations after years of tensions following the 2020 Ladakh border crisis, with both sides seeking greater engagement on trade, connectivity and regional issues.