In a significant move to stabilize bilateral relations, India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra in the summer, following two days of foreign secretary-level talks in Beijing. The yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, had been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and strained ties post the Galwan clash.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as part of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism. Both nations also agreed in principle to resume direct air services, with technical teams set to discuss modalities.
As outlined in the Kazan meeting between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping, the talks emphasized people-centric measures, including cooperation on trans-border rivers. The resumption of the yatra and flights is seen as a step toward rebuilding trust and normalizing relations.
