India, Oct. 2 -- India and China are set to resume direct flights between selected cities after a gap of five years, the external affairs ministry said on Thursday, noting that the move would contribute to the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations.

The resumption of direct air services - suspended since 2020 - figured in several meetings held after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in the Russian city of Kazan in October 2024.

The civil aviation authorities of India and China were engaged in technical discussions on resuming direct flights and revising an air services agreement since earlier this year, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. This was part of the government's "approach towards gr...