India and China will resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in summer 2025, a positive step in rebuilding relations. This decision follows a review of ties during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Beijing and prior discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Both nations aim to enhance people-to-people exchanges, resume direct flights, and hold talks on trans-border river cooperation. These measures signify growing collaboration and connectivity between the two countries, fostering stronger bilateral relations.
India and China have announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025, marking a positive step in rebuilding bilateral relations. In a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday, it was revealed that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing on January 26-27 to participate in the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism meeting.
The MEA stated, “As agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan in October, both sides comprehensively reviewed the state of India-China bilateral relations and agreed to take people-centric measures to stabilize and rebuild ties.”
As part of these measures, the two nations have committed to restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage enabling Indian devotees to visit the revered Kailash Mansarovar region in Tibet, considered the sacred abode of Lord Shiva. The Yatra had been on hold for several years. The statement noted, “In this context, the two sides have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025. The relevant mechanism will discuss the modalities for this resumption in line with existing agreements. They also agreed to hold an early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism to discuss the resumption of the provision of hydrological data and other forms of cooperation regarding trans-border rivers.”
In addition to the pilgrimage, India and China have agreed to strengthen people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges. The statement emphasized measures to promote media and think-tank interactions while also confirming plans to reinstate direct air services between the two countries. “They agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries; the relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date,” the statement added.
The renewal of direct flights and discussions on hydrological cooperation regarding trans-border rivers were highlighted as part of the broader consensus reached during the talks. These developments signal a notable improvement in India-China relations, fostering collaboration and connectivity between the two nations.
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