India and China will resume direct passenger flights later this month, bringing an end to a four-year suspension that followed deadly border clashes in 2020 and signaling a cautious thaw in bilateral relations.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Thursday that direct air travel between the two nations will restart on October 26, with Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo launching flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou. Additional routes are expected in the near future, as the two Asian powers pursue broader diplomatic normalization.

The ministry described the move as a step toward “further facilitating people-to-people contact” and advancing the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges,” after years of strained ties.

Direct flights between India and China were suspended in June 2020, following a violent confrontation in the Galwan Valley, a disputed region along the Himalayan border. The clash resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops—marking the worst escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in more than 40 years.

In the aftermath, diplomatic and military channels froze, trade slowed, and people-to-people exchanges came to a halt. However, over the past year, both sides have quietly worked to reduce tensions through repeated military talks, diplomatic engagements, and confidence-building measures.

High-level contacts have resumed. In August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he held discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders agreed to steer relations toward cooperation rather than confrontation.

Earlier this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Delhi, where he urged India to regard China as a “partner, not an adversary.” The dialogue has extended into symbolic gestures as well. Beijing recently granted entry to Indian pilgrims visiting sacred sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while India restored visa services for Chinese nationals and agreed to resume talks on border trade.

While core issues, particularly the boundary dispute, remain unresolved, the resumption of flights is being viewed as a confidence-building step and a potential precursor to broader engagement across economic, political, and cultural spheres.

China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, has echoed a more conciliatory tone, criticizing U.S. trade policies and suggesting greater alignment with India on global trade concerns. Analysts suggest that both nations, facing regional and global economic headwinds, may be looking to stabilize ties and rebuild cooperation in select areas, even as deep mistrust lingers.

For now, the resumption of air connectivity serves as a tangible signal that two of Asia’s largest economies are reopening dialogue and reconnecting after years of tension and disruption.