Both nations cautiously strengthening ties against backdrop of President Trump\u2019s unpredictable foreign policy
\n NEW DELHI
\nIndia and China agreed on Tuesday to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as the neighbours rebuild ties damaged by a 2020 border clash.
\nThe Asian giants are cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump\u2019s unpredictable foreign policy, staging a series of high-level bilateral visits.
\nThe two countries would resume direct flights and boost trade and investment, including reopening border trade at three designated points, and facilitating visas, the Indian foreign ministry said. Direct flights have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. No date was given for their resumption.
\nThe latest statements came at the end of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi\u2019s two-day visit to New Delhi for the 24th round of talks with Indian National Security (NSA) Advisor Ajit Doval to resolve their decades-old border dispute.
\nThe border talks covered issues related to pulling back troops both countries have amassed on their Himalayan border, delimitation of borders and boundary affairs, the Indian ministry said. Both countries have agreed to set up a working group to consult and coordinate on border affairs to advance demarcation negotiations, a Chinese foreign ministry statement released on Wednesday showed.
\nIt said the mechanism will extend talks to cover the eastern and middle sections of the border. Meanwhile, another round of talks on the western section will be held as soon as possible, the ministry said. Beijing also said both countries agreed to meet again in China in 2026. \u201cStable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity,\u201d Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X after meeting Wang.
\nModi is scheduled to travel to China at the end of this month to take part in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation\u2013his first visit to the country in more than seven years.
\nTibet Dam
\nA readout from the Chinese foreign ministry said Wang told Doval that \u201cthe stable and healthy development of China-India relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries\u2019 people\u201d. The two sides \u201cshould enhance mutual trust through dialogues and expand cooperation,\u201d Wang said, and should aim for consensus in areas such as border control and demarcation negotiations.
\nIndia said Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had underlined in his talks with Wang India\u2019s concerns with regard to the mega dam China is building on the Yarlung\u202f Zangbo river in Tibet.
\nYarlung\u202f Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra as it flows into India and Bangladesh, a lifeline for millions.
\nThe dam would have implications for lower riparian states and the need for \u201cutmost transparency\u201d was strongly underlined, New Delhi said.
\nTo that, China agreed to share with India emergency hydrological information on relevant rivers on humanitarian principles, China\u2019s foreign ministry said.
\nBoth sides agreed to engage an expert-level mechanism on cross-border rivers and maintain communication to renew flood reporting arrangements, the ministry said.
\nChinese officials had previously said hydropower projects in Tibet would not have a major impact on the environment or downstream water supplies, but India and Bangladesh have nevertheless raised concerns.
\nEarlier on Tuesday, an Indian source said Wang had assured Jaishankar that Beijing was addressing three key Indian concerns\u2013the need for fertilisers, rare earths and tunnel boring machines.
\nThe Indian foreign and mines ministries and China\u2019s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Both nations cautiously strengthening ties against backdrop of President Trump\u2019s unpredictable foreign policy NEW DELHI India and China agreed on Tuesday to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as the neighbours rebuild ties damaged by a 2020 border clash. The Asian giants are cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of US […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":497794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-497975","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n