Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 22: India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide, ending a five-year suspension imposed after the 2020 Galwan clash. The move marks a significant step towards normalising ties between the two countries.

The decision follows earlier 2025 measures, including the January agreement to resume direct passenger flights and the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage in June, after a five-year hiatus.

Diplomatic engagement intensified throughout the year, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visiting Beijing in July and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocating with a visit to New Delhi in August. The visits focused on border de-escalation and fostering mutual strategic trust.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to China on August 31 for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, his first in seven years, further cemented the rapprochement, with leaders committing to view each other as “partners rather than rivals.”

On November 10, India’s Consul General in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, welcomed the first batch of passengers arriving from New Delhi as direct commercial flights officially resumed after five years. Posting on X, India in Shanghai noted, “Fair Winds & Clear skies! India emerges as a Global Hub as people-to-people ties grow stronger.”