China Southern Airlines to resume India flights after 6 years
What's the story
China Southern Airlines will resume its Guangzhou-New Delhi flights from September 21, ending a six-year hiatus. The airline will operate over 100 weekly flights on eight round-trip routes in South Asia. This decision comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India for the BRICS summit, where he is also expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Diplomatic thaw
Resumption of flights indicates improving relations
The resumption of these flights is a sign of improving relations between India and China.
The two countries have gradually resumed air services this year after they were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions from the Doklam and Galwan standoffs.
Earlier, Air India had restarted New Delhi-Shanghai flights in February, nearly six years after their suspension.
Connectivity boost
Other resumptions of flights between India and China
Air China had also resumed its Beijing-Delhi service in April, marking the second route to India resumed by Chinese carriers.
China Eastern Airlines restarted its direct service between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18.
IndiGo launched its first daily, nonstop flight between Kolkata and Shanghai on March 30, further boosting air connectivity between India and China.
Upcoming summit
Xi's 1st visit to India since the Galwan Valley clash
Chinese President Xi is arriving in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation.
This will be his first visit to India since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
The visit indicates a thaw in relations between the two nations, with previous meetings between PM Modi and President Xi in Kazan and Tianjin.
Meeting details
Xi's entourage and scheduled bilateral meeting with Modi
President Xi's entourage includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister.
A bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Xi is scheduled for 5:45pm on Saturday.
The resumption of flights and upcoming summit highlight efforts to strengthen ties between India and China.