India and China have started direct flights again on Sunday after stopping them for five years, a significant action for trade while also being a symbolic step as the two large countries carefully work on improving their relationship. 

An IndiGo flight from Kolkata landed in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou just before 4:00 am, officially restarting nonstop air travel, which had been stopped since 2020 because of the pandemic and later because of geopolitical tensions.

India's government said that restarting the flights will increase contact between the people of both countries and help to slowly bring their bilateral exchanges back to normal.

There are already regular flights operating between India and Hong Kong, and additional services will begin in November from the capital New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou.

"The direct air link will reduce logistics and transit time," said Rajeev Singh, head of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, additionally telling AFP that this change would benefit businesses.

"It's great news for people like us, who have relatives in China," said Chen Khoi Kui, a civil society leader in Kolkata's Chinatown district of Tangra told AFP, adding that "Air connectivity will boost trade, tourism and business travel."

India gets closer to China, leaves US behind

India's relations with Beijing are improving at the same time as its ties with its key trade partner, Washington, are faltering, following an order from US President Donald Trump that imposed punishing 50% tariffs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 31, emphasizing New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening relations between China and India. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where leaders from across Asia convened in a show of Global South solidarity and regional cooperation.

According to India’s Foreign Ministry, PM Modi conveyed to Xi that the relationship should rest on the principles of “mutual respect, trust, and sensitivities” rather than being interpreted through the perspective of any third country.

Both leaders agreed to expand bilateral investment and trade ties and to address India's persistent trade deficit with China, which reached a record $99.2 billion this year and remains a longstanding source of frustration for Indian officials.

During a previous visit to India by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China also agreed to lift its export curbs on key resources such as rare earths and fertilizers.