China and India have agreed to resume direct commercial flights, in the latest sign of an easing of tensions between the world’s two most populous countries.

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years and work on resolving differences over trade and economic issues, New Delhi said, as relations continue to thaw after a deadly 2020 border clash.

Direct flights between India and the Philippines are expected to start this year, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain said this week. Indian full-service airline Air India and budget carrier IndiGo are being looked at to serve on the route, Jain shared.

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years, India's foreign ministry said on Monday, signalling a thaw in relations between the neighbours after a deadly 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border.

It was the latest thaw in relations between the two countries, whose troops were involved in deadly skirmishes high in the Himalayas in 2020.

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services between the two countries, New Delhi said in a statement on Monday after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Beijing.

Flights were interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, and a clash high in the Himalayas kept them grounded after they were lifted.

India and China have agreed to resume direct flights after a five-year pause, marking a significant step in restoring ties between the two nations. This decision is expected to boost bilateral trade,

For the first time in nearly five years, direct flights between China and India are set to resume. The New York Times reports the development comes as relations between the two countries improve after hitting one of their lowest points in recent memory,