In what is being viewed as a significant step in further improving bilateral ties between India and China, Vikram Misri, foreign secretary, India, has met with Sun Weidong, vice-foreign minister, China, in Delhi and held a new round of China-India ‘vice-foreign minister-foreign secretary’ level dialogue. Sun Weidong also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. “During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the developments in India-China bilateral relations since their last meeting in Beijing on 27 January and agreed to continue to stabilise and rebuild ties, with focus on people-centric engagements,” says a ministry for external affairs (MEA) communique.
Foreign Secretary Misri appreciated co-operation from China on the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and also said that he hoped progress would be made on further co-operation involving trans-border river issues for resumption of provision of hydrological data. The two sides have agreed to expedite resuming direct flights, and for an early resolution of an updated Air Services Agreement, while also agreeing to improvise visa facilities and promote exchanges between media and think-tanks.
Sun Weidong has expressed hope that, with the concerted efforts of both sides, there would be improvement and development in bilateral relations, informs a spokesperson for China’s ministry for foreign affairs. “Both sides should follow the understandings reached by Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, when they met in Kazan in October 2024,” the spokesperson added. “There is need to continuously increase political mutual trust, advance exchanges and co-operation in various areas together, properly handle disagreements and differences, push bilateral relations forward on the track of sound and steady development and jointly play a constructive role in maintaining international and regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.”
There is need to continuously increase political mutual trust, advance exchanges and co-operation in various areas together
Meanwhile, India has extended its support for China’s presidency of Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO). India and China are preparing for the 24th Special Representatives’ Meeting on China-India boundary question too, even as they celebrate 75th years of diplomatic ties.
The first batch of Indians have left for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, which is happening now after a gap of five years. The yatra ends in September and 750 Indians have been selected for this. “This year, 5,561 applicants had successfully registered online, which included 4024 male applicants and 1,537 female applicants. A total of 750 selected yatris, including two liaison officers per batch, will travel to Kailash Mansarovar – five batches of 50 yatris each, via the Lipulekh route, and 10 batches of 50 yatris each via the Nathu La route. Both routes are now fully accessible to motor vehicles and involve very little trekking. The route and batch details are available on the yatra website,” said Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s minister of state for external affairs.
Two official routes
Drawing of lots was done through a computerised random selection. Also, 1,751 people have been waitlisted (in case any of the yatris, who have got visas, decide to drop out). The yatris have been urged to undertake the pilgrimage with a sense of responsibility, humility and mindfulness, while caring for each other, as well as protecting the sanctity of the environment.
The Kailash-Manasarovar yatra was held through the two official routes of Lipulekh Pass (since 1981) in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass (since 2015) in Sikkim till 2019, after which it was suspended due to Covid pandemic. And it stayed like that, because of subsequent political tensions between India and China. The MEA charges R1.8 lakh per person for the yatra through Lipulekh Pass.
The second route through the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, which is motorable, was started in 2015. The cost for undertaking the yatra through this route is about Rs2.5 lakh per person. “We were hoping that 2,000 yatris would be allowed,” a travel agent remarked. “However, we are happy that the yatra has resumed”.
India and China have a strong bilateral trade partnership. During 2024-25, the trade was about $118 billion, with India’s imports from China at about $109 billion and exports to China at $9.8 billion (the trade deficit for this period amounting to about $99.2 billion).