India and China to Prioritize People-to-People Exchanges

India and China agreed on Wednesday to continue fostering people-to-people exchanges by resuming direct flights, enhancing media interactions, and commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. These initiatives are part of broader efforts to restore normalcy in bilateral ties.

The two sides reached the agreement at official consultations between the foreign ministries in Beijing. (ANI)

The discussions took place between the foreign ministries in Beijing, following a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs. The WMCC talks focused on reviving cross-border cooperation, particularly concerning trans-border rivers and the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage.

Both meetings align with ongoing efforts by New Delhi and Beijing to reset their relationship after reaching an understanding last October to resolve the military standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which had led to the lowest point in relations in six decades. Shortly after this agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, where they decided to reactivate various mechanisms to improve ties.

During Wednesday’s meeting, both sides assessed the progress made in implementing the strategic roadmap and specific measures agreed upon during the January 27 meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding relations, according to an Indian statement.

“They agreed to continue efforts to further facilitate and promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights, interaction of media and think-tanks, and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,” said the readout.

“The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025,” it said.

The Chinese side has strongly advocated for the reinstatement of direct flights, along with the relaxation of visa restrictions and the revival of broader trade relations.

The two sides also reviewed the planned exchanges and activities for the year, and discussed the “resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a step-by-step manner” to address “each other’s priority areas of interest and concern”, with the aim of steering their relations toward a more stable and predictable course, according to the readout.

Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, took part in a consultative meeting with Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs at China’s Foreign Ministry. Additionally, Das led the Indian delegation at Tuesday’s WMCC meeting, which focused on implementing decisions from last December’s Special Representatives meeting in Beijing regarding the boundary issue.

As per the readout, both sides highlighted the “positive” progress in bilateral relations since Modi and Xi's meeting last October. Since then, the foreign ministers have met twice, and the Special Representatives have also held discussions. These strategic meetings offered “strategic guidance to stabilise and further develop relations”, the readout said.

In a meeting held in January between the foreign secretary and the Chinese vice foreign minister, both sides agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, which had been suspended since 2020. They also “agreed in principle” to restart direct flights and discussed measures to enhance people-to-people exchanges, including media and think tank interactions.

India-China relations hit their lowest point since the 1962 border war following clashes between their troops in the Ladakh sector of the LAC in April-May 2020. Tensions escalated further after a violent confrontation in Galwan Valley in June that year, resulting in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops.

After multiple rounds of negotiations under the WMCC mechanism and between senior military commanders, both countries agreed to withdraw frontline forces from the banks of Pangong Lake and at Gogra and Hot Springs. On October 21 last year, they reached an understanding to pull back troops from the last two “friction points” at Demchok and Depsang.

More recently, China responded positively to Prime Minister Modi’s remarks that differences between the two nations are natural but should not escalate into disputes, emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation for global stability and prosperity. China's foreign ministry described the comments as “positive” and expressed Beijing’s willingness to work with New Delhi to rebuild ties.

(This Article was originally published by Hindustan Times)