Resumption of Key Bilateral Activities
- Direct Flights: Both countries have agreed to resume direct flights between India and China.
- Visa Issuance: Visa processes will restart, facilitating travel between the two nations.
- Mansarovar Pilgrimage: The Mansarovar Yatra for pilgrims will restart in summer 2025.
- People-to-People Exchanges: Measures to promote cultural, media, and think tank interactions have been agreed upon.
Relevance : GS 2(International Relations )
Hydrological Data Sharing and Trans-Border Rivers
- India and China will resume dialogue on the trans-border rivers and sharing of hydrological data that China had previously withheld, a significant issue for India.
Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
- Both nations will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of India-China ties with celebratory events.
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the need to end “mutual suspicion and estrangement.”
Economic and Trade Discussions
- Both sides discussed trade curbs and economic issues:
- India has concerns about Chinese restrictions on key materials like pharmaceutical ingredients and high-tech exports.
- China raised issues about India’s investment restrictions on Chinese companies and business visas, especially after the 2020 tensions.
- Discussions aim at promoting policy transparency and predictability in the economic sector.
Progress on Bilateral Dialogue
- Vikram Misri (India’s Foreign Secretary) met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to review and enhance bilateral relations.
- This meeting follows the Modi-Xi meeting in October in Kazan, where both leaders agreed to stabilize relations.
Reactivation of Dialogue Mechanisms
- The FS-Vice FM level bilateral dialogue mechanism has been resumed, marking a return to regular diplomatic talks after a hiatus due to tensions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- The resumed dialogue includes meetings between top-level officials such as Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, and discussions involving Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers, and Special Representatives.
Economic Concerns
- Specific economic issues raised include trade barriers, investment clearance requirements, and the withholding of critical equipment from China, including Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).
SCO Summit and Future Bilateral Engagements
- India has offered its support for China’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2025.
- PM Modi is expected to attend the SCO Head of State Summit in June 2025, further solidifying the diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Unclear on Informal Summit
- There is no clear indication yet whether the resumption of dialogues will include an informal summit like those in Wuhan (2018) and Mamallapuram (2020), which were used to ease tensions and foster communication between the two leaders.
