India and China will resume direct flights for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, a sign of improvement in the relationship between the two neighbouring nations, which were engaged in a bitter border tension in 2020.

The announcement on the resumption of flight service was made at a time when Indian PM Narendra Modi visited China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.

He met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the event, a boost in the bond shared between the countries at a moment when the US imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

.According to a Hindustan Times report, the plan for the resumption of flight service was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to China.

Modi-Xi meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Sunday and said he is "committed" to taking India-China relations "forward based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity".

PM Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that begins on Sunday.

During the meeting, PM Modi also said an "atmosphere of peace and stability" has been created after the disengagement on the border.

"Last year in Kazan, we had very fruitful discussions, which gave a positive direction to our relations. After the disengagement on the border, an atmosphere of peace and stability has been created," he said.

PM Modi also spoke about the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights between the two countries.

"The interests of 2.8 billion people of both countries are linked to our cooperation. This will also pave the way for the welfare of the entire humanity," he said.