As India sends the first batch of 50 pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Friday, which has resumed after a six -year gap, New Delhi and Beijing are now looking to resume direct air services, take steps for visa convenience and also share data on transnational rivers.
After a meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weeong, who is visiting New Delhi, both sides reviewed the events in the Indo-China bilateral relations since their final meeting in Beijing in January, and “managed to continue an attempt to focus a focus and continue efforts to focus a focus abroad.
After the announcement that Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will resume from June this year, the government did last month. 750 people selected A pool of more than 5,500 applicants for the journey will be held between June and August this year. The pilgrims will travel in five batches of each 50 yatris through the Lipulek route, and 10 batch of each 50 through the Nathu La route.
The first time was declared on 26 April after the journey started from June. Pahgam Terror Attack On 22 April, as a step towards normalizing India-China relations after a gap of six years due to border deadlock.
The journey was at the top of India’s specialist since negotiations to normalize the ties starting in November last year. According to an MEA statement on Friday, Misri appreciated the cooperation of the Chinese side for the convenience of re -starting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year, and discussed the next steps towards normalizing the relationship, which includes data sharing on rivers and re -starting direct flights.
“The Foreign Secretary mentioned the discussion on the transboundary rivers during the April 2025 meeting of April 2025 during the expert level meeting and hoped for progress on re -introduction of hydrological data sharing and other areas of cooperation,” the MEA said.
The two sides agreed to accelerate the steps involved in resumption of direct air services between the two countries, and to an early closing of an updated air service agreement. Mea further stated that both sides agreed to take practical steps for visa facility and promote exchanges between media and think tanks.
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He positively assessed the activities planned to mark the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between India and China, and agreed to make it convenient, said the MEA.
In this context of strengthening bilateral relations, India said on Thursday that it is in touch with the Chinese side, demanding predictions in the supply of rare earth metals, which was placed under the export control regime by Xi Administration.
Mea spokesman Randhir Jiswal told reporters at the weekly briefing, “We are in touch with the Chinese side, both of them corresponds to international practices, to predict in the supply chain for trade in Beijing along with Delhi.”
“The general administration of the Customs of China and the general administration of Customs in early April announced the decision to implement export control on some rare earth -related goods,” Jaswal said.
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A few days ago, the US reached a “deal” with China after intensive trade talks. As part of the deal, according to the US, President Donald Trump, rare Earth will be supplied from China.
China on Thursday indicated to negotiate with India on its restrictions on the export of rare earth materials, stating that the industrial supply is ready to increase dialogue and cooperation with the respective countries to keep the chain stable. Their recent sanctions on export of major metals led to disintegration in the construction of automobiles and semiconductor chips in hosting countries including India.
On the future of India-China relations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said earlier this week, “Both our powers are growing quickly, so finding balance is a complex process. Our relationships have passed through a difficult period since the 2020 military conflict in the Himalayas. Many of our exchange were suspended.”
“Both sides feel that the relationship can improve step by step. We have discussed some measures, and others are under consideration, such as the resumed of direct flights suspended since Kovid -19,” he said.
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