India has started giving tourist visas again to Chinese citizens after almost five years. This decision is seen as an important step towards improving the relationship between the two countries. The tourist visa service was stopped after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, and now it has finally been reopened.

This new move became possible after both countries took several steps throughout this year to rebuild trust. One of the major steps was in January 2025, when India and China agreed to restart direct passenger flights. Because of that agreement, flights between New Delhi and Shanghai started again recently, and the first group of passengers arrived earlier this month.

Officials shared that an order was issued in July 2025 recommending that tourist visas for Chinese nationals should begin again. After discussions and review, the government has now officially allowed tourist visa applications from people in China.

Another positive step between the two nations happened in June 2025, when the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage reopened after being closed for five years. The first group of Indian pilgrims crossed into Tibet successfully, showing progress in cooperation.

This year also marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and China. On April 1, President Xi Jinping and President Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shared congratulatory messages, showing a wish for peace and stability.

Throughout 2025, talks between both countries increased.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Beijing in July and said that the relationship is slowly moving in a positive direction and that both sides are working to rebuild mutual trust. Later in August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited New Delhi for two days and met NSA Ajit Doval and Jaishankar to talk about reducing tensions at the border and normalising ties.

These efforts helped make way for Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China on August 31 for the SCO Summit in Tianjin. This was his first visit to China in seven years. During the meeting, PM Modi and President Xi agreed that both countries should see each other as partners, not competitors.

On November 10, when direct commercial flights officially restarted after five years, Pratik Mathur, Consul General of India in Shanghai, personally welcomed the first passengers arriving from New Delhi. The Consulate said that restarting flights will help strengthen people-to-people connections and open more opportunities for travellers.

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