Latest news with #KailashManasarovarYatra
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
A slow revival: on the state of India-China ties
India's decision to restart issuing tourist visas for Chinese nationals is a strong signal that diplomacy over restoring ties rent apart by the LAC military standoff and Galwan clash of 2020 is moving smoothly. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October, there have been a number of high-level meetings; the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) has been convened three times. The visa decision comes a month after China reopened the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage. The two sides have also agreed in principle to revive direct flights, and it is hoped visas for journalists will follow. A joint statement last month said that they would hold 'certain functional dialogues' to discuss economic issues and trade, presumably to address India's restrictions on Chinese investment, and China's export restrictions on fertilizer and critical minerals. The export restrictions are causing considerable disruption in Indian technology sector companies, and even Japanese and South Korean automotive companies based in India have raised concerns over supply chain issues. The measures are expected to continue to roll out as preparations begin for the expected visit of Mr. Modi for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in August. The WMCC held on Wednesday in Delhi discussed preparations for the next meeting of Special Representatives on the China-India boundary question, to discuss dispute resolution; China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that it is speaking to India about New Delhi's concerns over the mega-dam project on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) in Tibet. However, both sides have been muted about the reason for the rupture in ties in the first place. There has been little discussion over what prompted the Chinese PLA to transgress the LAC in 2020, which led to the Galwan clash, and what guarantees Beijing has given that this would not be repeated. While in December 2024, the government told Parliament that normalcy in ties could only follow the restoration of 'peace and tranquillity in the border areas', it appears it is now prepared to continue to normalise other parts of the relationship without achieving troop de-escalation, dismantling of infrastructure in disputed areas and buffer zones that would lead to restoring patrolling to pre-2020 levels. Ties have also been impacted over Operation Sindoor, with revelations that the PLA was in lock-step with Pakistan's army. The government must realise that restoring mechanisms of bilateral ties are not by themselves sufficient for rebuilding trust. Sweeping key issues under the carpet, without some transparency on the path ahead, could put the whole process of reviving relations at risk.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
After 5 years, India to issue visas to Chinese tourists
India will start issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a gap of five years, the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced on Wednesday. The announcement, that was called 'positive' by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks another step in normalising India-China ties ruptured by the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control and Galwan clashes in 2020. According to an official notice posted online and on Chinese social media, the visas can be applied for online beginning from Thursday and obtained after an appointment at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Amidst the bonhomie, Beijing rejected concerns in Delhi and Dhaka about China's latest dam project on the Yarlung Sangpo or Brahmaputra River in Tibet and said it had communicated with both the governments. Responding to a question about the visa issuance on Wednesday, a Chinese MFA spokesperson said that Beijing had taken note of the 'positive move'. 'Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries,' said spokesperson Guo Jiakun in Beijing. After the Covid pandemic and then violence between the two militaries after China amassed troops at the LAC, both countries had cancelled all flights and most visa services between them. China restored visa applications for Indian students in 2022 and for business and tourism purposes subsequently. It issued an estimated 85,000 visas between January and June 2025. India had issued visas in business and student categories, but not for tourism until now. According to the Ministry of Tourism figures in 2019, before the lockdown, more than 3,00,000 Chinese tourists had visited India and about 8,69,000 Indian tourists had gone to China. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October and agreed to restore ties, a series of high-level meetings discussed the next steps, including the start of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Most recently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar travelled to China on July 14-16, and met with his counterpart Wang Yi, and also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice-President Hang Zheng, before attending the SCO Council for Foreign Ministers. In an interview to The Hindu, Chinese Ambassaor Xu Feihong said that resuming the Kailash pilgrimage was 'an important initiative taken by China to improve relations between the two countries', indicating that it was India's turn to take the next positive step. Both sides are also working on resuming direct flights between the two countries soon, understood to be announced before PM Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit, which is expected on August 31-September 1, officials said. When asked by reporters about the hydropower project being constructed on the Yarlung Sangpo, Mr. Guo said that it was 'fully within China's sovereignty'. 'China is engaged in cooperation with downstream countries on sharing hydrological data, flood prevention and disaster reduction,' he said, adding that Beijing has had the 'necessary communication' with India and Bangladesh. Construction for the massive 60,000 MW Medog Hydropower station, set to be the world's largest, began last week, and was flagged off by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. In a response in Parliament, the government had said that India had 'registered its concerns' with China over the ecological and disaster risks of the project in December 2024, while the Bangladesh's Ministry of Water Resources had also requested Beijing's response on its concerns in March this year.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
After a gap of five years, India resumes issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens
India has announced resuming issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals from this week, a move that comes as part of efforts to repair bilateral ties that came under severe strain following the military clashes in Galwan Valley. India had suspended issuance of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in 2020 largely due to Covid-19 pandemic but the restrictions continued in view of the eastern Ladakh border row. The Indian embassy in Beijing said Chinese nationals may apply for tourist visas from Thursday. In a notification, it also explained the required procedures to apply for the visas as well as documents required to be submitted at respective Indian visa application centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The decision by the Indian embassy to resume the tourist visas came nearly a week-and-half after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held extensive talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. Jaishankar visited China on July 14-15 primarily to attend a conclave of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The external affairs minister also held talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and conveyed to him that continued normalisation of bilateral ties can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. In the last few months, India and China have initiated a number of measures to repair the bilateral ties that had severely nosedived following the deadly clashes between the two militaries in June 2020. The efforts to normalise the relations were initiated after the Indian and Chinese militaries ended their face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in October last year. In his opening remarks at the meeting with Wang, Jaishankar said the bilateral relationship requires both sides taking a 'far-seeing approach'. Last month, the two sides resumed the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly five years.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Indian Visas For Chinese Tourists From Tomorrow, After 5-Year Gap
India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24, its embassy in Beijing said on Wednesday, the first time in five years. In 2020, India had suspended all tourist visas in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19. In a statement, the Embassy of India in China said that Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to the Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, in South China's Guangdong Province. "Please be informed that all passport withdrawal requests for applications submitted in India Visa Application Center in Beijing must be accompanied by a passport withdrawal letter..," the statement added. Travel between India and China was significantly disrupted in recent years amid the Covid-19 pandemic followed by diplomatic tensions over the 2020 Galwan clashes. While Beijing gradually resumed issuing visas to Indian students and businessmen, general travel remained restricted. Bilateral relations between the two countries had plunged to their lowest point since the 1962 war after the Galwan Valley clashes. Following a series of diplomatic and military talks, the two sides withdrew their troops from several friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. In October last, the two sides firmed up a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh. Days later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Kazan and took a number of decisions to improve the ties. Earlier this year, India and China explored ways to rebuild ties and agreed to initiate efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges, including arrangements for resumption of direct flights and resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra this year. The Yatra was suspended since the outbreak of Covid-19. In April, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India and China are moving towards a "positive direction" in their ties and work needs to be done to normalise the relationship.
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Reviving Kailash-Mansarovar yatra to ‘inject new impetus' in India-China ties, direct flights to follow: Chinese Ambassador to India
The situation at the India-China border is 'stable', says China's Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, adding that China is prepared to discuss 'border management and control rules' in order to resolve issues after the 4-year military standoff at the Line of Actual Control ended. In written responses to questions from The Hindu, Mr. Xu spoke about plans to restore normalcy in ties, disclosing that airlines and the government have prepared for the relaunch of direct flights, to restore other exchanges, to resolve investment and trade differences, and said the restart of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra would 'inject new impetus' into relations. Rejecting criticism of China's support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Chinese Ambassador said bilateral ties were not targeted at a third country. While criticising comments by Minister Kiren Rijiju on the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, he said Beijing had 'noted' the MEA statement that India has 'no position' on the issue. Excerpts from the written Interview: Q: About 8-9 batches of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have been completed or are underway, and we were able to meet Indian pilgrims there. For the Chinese government, what is the significance of the restoration of the pilgrimage? A: The Kangrínboqê Fēng (Mount Kailash) and Mapam Yuco (Mansarovar) in Xizang (Tibet Autonomous Region/TAR) are regarded as 'sacred mountain and lake' by followers of several religions, including Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism. The visit of Indian pilgrims to the sacred mountain and lake in [Tibet] is a special arrangement made by the Chinese side to show friendliness to the Indian people, accommodate the religious sentiments of the Indian people, and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. A: During the preparation process, the Chinese side overcame many difficulties and invested a large amount of manpower and resources. Recently, in accordance with the consensus reached by the two sides, the pilgrimage to the sacred mountain and lake has resumed and is proceeding in an orderly manner. The Indian Defence Minister and Minister of External Affairs expressed their appreciation to the Chinese side during their visit to China, and the Indian people also responded enthusiastically. This will help to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding between the two countries, and inject new impetus into the improvement and development of China-India relations. Q: Is KMY expected to pave the way for other people-to-people ties, including travel, trade and investment? How soon do you expect direct flights between India and China to begin, and what will be the frequency? A: Resuming the pilgrimage for Indian pilgrims to the sacred mountain and lake in [Tibet] is an important initiative taken by China to improve relations between the two countries. It fully demonstrates China's sincerity and trustworthiness. We hope and believe that the Indian side will work for the shared goal of promoting new developments in cooperation in areas such as investment, trade and tourism between the two countries. Currently, the government departments of both China and India, as well as major airlines, have done a lot of work for the resumption of direct flights. We hope that direct flights between the two countries will be launched as soon as possible. Q: There have been reports of a number of differences over economic issues- China is believed to have objected to India's FDI restrictions, and legal cases against Chinese businesses, while in India, China is perceived to have blocked exports of Critical minerals and fertilizers, and recalled Chinese personnel from Foxconn/Apple factories. How do you expect these to be resolved? A: Standing at a new historical starting point, both China and India are at a critical stage of their respective modernisation. Development is the 'greatest common denominator' between the two nations at present. China has always supported strengthening cooperation between China and India in the economic and trade fields. We hope that India will work together with China to take more measures conducive to bilateral economic and trade exchanges, add incentive policies and reduce restrictive measures, so as to promote China-India economic and trade cooperation to a new level. Q: Has Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed his attendance at the SCO Summit later this year, and would there be a bilateral visit or meeting as well? A: China will hold the SCO summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025. We welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the SCO Tianjin summit. PM Modi said earlier that India fully supports China's SCO presidency. Not long ago India's NSA Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended relevant SCO meetings in China. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar visited China and participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting, noting that India fully supports China, as the rotating chair, in hosting a successful SCO summit. A: The SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting was successfully held recently and made full political preparations for the upcoming SCO Tianjin summit. Q: At the SCO Defence Minister's meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said that one country held up the joint statement over references to terrorism and in particular the Pahalgam Terror attack. As Chair, how does China explain the lack of a statement on terrorism at the SCO, an organisation that was founded with a priority on issues of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, and how confident is China of a joint statement at the FM meet/ Summit? A: The SCO adheres to the Shanghai Spirit, which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilisations and pursuit of common development. The Shanghai Spirit is the very root and soul of the SCO and the key to its strong vitality. According to this 'code of conduct' of the SCO family, member states can equally express their positions, but also should avoid bringing bilateral conflicts into the multilateral platform. A: Unilateralism and bullying are now forcing their way and bringing serious challenges to the world. As the two most populous emerging economies, China and India need to enhance cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the SCO and BRICS, resolutely uphold multilateralism, safeguard the common interests of the Global South, promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. Q: Even as India and China restore their exchanges to bring a 'semblance of normalcy', as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement, what is the next step on the Line of Actual Control? While both sides agreed to disengage in October 2024, has there been any progress on de-escalation and demobilisation of troops there? A: At present, the situation in the China-India border areas is generally stable. Last October, China and India reached resolutions on relevant issues concerning the border area after intensive consultations and negotiations, and fully and effectively pushed forward their implementation. Last December, based on the important consensus reached by the two leaders in Kazan, China and India held the 23rd Special Representatives' Meeting on the China-India Boundary Question. The two sides held substantive talks and reached a six-point consensus on the China-India boundary question in a positive and constructive attitude. This March, the two sides held the 33rd Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs and agreed to take concrete and effective measures to continuously maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. In the next stage, China is willing to maintain communication with India through diplomatic and military channels, and in the spirit of equal consultation and mutual and equal security, further refine the border area management and control rules and strengthen confidence-building measures, so as to achieve sustainable peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Q: The Deputy Chief of the Indian Army has alleged that China provided 'all possible support' to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor including live inputs during the 4-day conflict between India and Pakistan in May. What is your response and has India raised its concerns about military interference from China in the conflict? A: After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, China strongly condemned it immediately, reiterating its firm opposition to all forms of terrorism. China has been closely following the situation between India and Pakistan and actively promoting talks for peace. Foreign Minister Wang Yi had phone conversations with India's NSA Ajit Doval and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar respectively. A: India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbours, and both are China's important neighbours. The realisation of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, and conducive to regional peace and stability, which is also the common expectation of the international community. China welcomes and supports India and Pakistan to properly settle their differences and seek fundamental solutions through dialogue and consultation. China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role to this end. A: During the recent meeting with EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised that China-India relations have their own historical logic and internal driving force, and the relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third party. Similarly, the development of relations and cooperation between China and Pakistan does not target any third party. Defence and security cooperation is part of the normal cooperation between China and Pakistan. Q: Given that it is an annual practice, why did the Chinese MFA object to PM Modi's birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama? A: The 14th Dalai Lama is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaging in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion and attempting to split [Tibet] from China. China consistently and firmly opposes any form of engagement between officials of any country and the 14th Dalai Lama. At present, the improvement and development of China-India relations are at a critical stage, and both sides need to respect each other's core interests and major concerns. China hopes that the Indian side could be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of [Tibet]-related issues, be fully aware of the 14th Dalai Lama's anti-China and separatist nature, stick to its commitment on [Tibet]-related issues, stop using [Tibet]-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, and refrain from any form of contacts with the Dalai group or providing any form of support or convenience for the Dalai group to carry out anti-China separatist activities, so as not to disrupt the process of improving and developing China-India relations. Q: Does the issue of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, which the MEA says the government has 'no position' on, have a bearing on India-China ties as well? A: We have noted the MEA of India's response to media queries regarding the statement by the 14th Dalai Lama. However, it cannot be denied that some officials of India openly expressed their welcome and support for the statement by the 14th Dalai Lama and attended his 90th birthday celebration. Some people from strategic communities and the media made improper remarks on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Such words and deeds are, in essence, promoting interference in China's internal affairs using [Tibet]-related issues, contrary to Indian government's public stance. A: Let me reiterate that [Tibet] is an inalienable part of China's territory. The lineage of the Dalai Lamas took shape and evolved within [TAR]. The religious status and titles are the prerogative of the central government of China. The reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama is inherently an internal affair of China. The Chinese government upholds the principle of independence and self-governance in religious affairs and administers the reincarnation of Living Buddhas, including that of the Dalai Lama, in accordance with the law. No interference by any external forces will be allowed. Hope the Indian side could know what truly matters and what's right, and honour its commitments made to China on [Tibet]-related issues. Q: Are there at present, any talks, or plans for talks between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama (as there have been in the past)? A: The Chinese government upholds two fundamental principles when it comes to contact and talks with the 14th Dalai Lama. First, we would only have contact and talks with him or his personal representative, not with the so-called 'Central Tibetan Administration.' Second, any contact or talks, if they occur, will only concern the personal future of the 14th Dalai Lama himself or, at most, a small number of people close to him. A: We are prepared to engage in talks with the 14th Dalai Lama regarding his personal future, provided he genuinely renounces the position aimed at splitting the motherland, completely ceases all separatist activities, publicly recognizes [Tibet] and Taiwan as integral parts of China, publicly recognises the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. Q: In the past few years, China has created groupings on COVID and poverty alleviation in South Asia that don't include India. Is there an attempt to create a 'SAARC minus India', or are there possibilities for China and India to cooperate in the region? A: China is always committed to the neighbourhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. By enhancing Political mutual trust, carrying out Inclusive cooperation and injecting impetus into Economic empowerment, China looks forward to joining hands with South Asian countries to make a bigger 'PIE' of cooperation, to promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. A: 'P' stands for Political Trust. At present, China, India and other South Asian countries are at a critical stage of modernisation. China stands ready to cooperate with India to enable South Asian people to share peace and stability .'I' stands for Inclusive Cooperation. In recent years, China has initiated cooperation mechanisms such as the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, the China-South Asia Exposition, the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation, and has recently held the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting, enhancing the well-being of all the people through open cooperation. These cooperation mechanisms are by no means a closed and confrontational 'small circle'. It does not target any third party and will not be disrupted by any third party. China always welcomes India's participation in all the platforms above and looks forward to carrying out trilateral cooperation with India in South Asia, leveraging our respective strengths to produce the effect in which 1+1+1>3. 'E' stands for Economic Empowerment. Over the past 12 years since China presented the Belt and Road Initiative, trade between China and South Asian countries has doubled from less than US$100 billion to about US$200 billion.
