Kathmandu: After a five-year suspension, direct flights between India and China resumed on Sunday, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the two Asian powers. The move is viewed as a symbolic start to rebuilding ties in the areas of trade, travel, and cultural exchange.

Relations between the world’s two most populous neighbours have been tense since the 2020 Himalayan border clash, which left 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers dead. The Indian government said the resumption of flights would help “strengthen people-to-people contacts” and move towards “normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, launched its first daily direct flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou on Sunday at 10 a.m. (16:30 GMT). Additional flights from New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou are expected to begin in November.

“Direct air connectivity will reduce logistics costs and transit time,” said Rajiv Singh, head of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, adding that the move will benefit the business community significantly.

Kolkata holds historic ties with China dating back to the British era, when Chinese traders settled in the city and shaped its famous Indo-Chinese cuisine. Locals in Kolkata’s Chinatown welcomed the decision, with community leader Chen Khoi Kui saying, “The air connectivity will strengthen both trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges.”

Trade between the two nations remains imbalanced, with India importing over $11 billion worth of Chinese goods last month — a 16% increase year-on-year — while exports to China stood at $1.47 billion, up 34% from last year, according to India’s Ministry of Commerce.

The 500 monthly flights that once operated between the two countries were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and diplomatic relations worsened after the border skirmish. India responded by banning several Chinese apps, including TikTok, and limiting investment and technology access.

Recent months, however, have shown signs of rapprochement. Soldiers from both countries reportedly exchanged sweets during the Dashain–Tihar (Diwali) festival, according to Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing.

An editorial in The Indian Express described the thaw as “a diplomatic signal to Washington” following the August meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, while cautioning that “the road to normalization is still long.”