India and #China have tentatively agreed to restart direct flights between their countries, nearly five years after they were suspended due to the #COVID19 pandemic and escalating political tensions.

The announcement on Monday came after India’s senior diplomat visited #Beijing, suggesting a potential easing of strained relations between the two most populous nations in the world.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to the Chinese capital is among the most significant official interactions since the deadly border clash in the Himalayas in 2020, which pushed relations to a breaking point.

#India’s statement further noted that China had agreed to allow the resumption of pilgrimages to a revered shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna, a tradition that had been suspended since the start of the decade.