India and China agree to resume direct flights for first time in five years

The development is the latest sign of thaw in diplomatic relations between the world's two most populous nations

India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct flights between the two nations, nearly five years after the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent political tensions halted them.

The announcement on Monday came at the conclusion of a visit to Beijing by New Delhi's top career diplomat and heralds the latest signs of a thaw in the frosty ties between the world's two most populous nations.