New Delhi, June 13, 2025 — India and China have agreed to resume critical cooperation following a high-level meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.
The two sides confirmed plans to restart functional economic and trade dialogues, designed to resolve bilateral concerns such as supply chain uncertainties most notably China’s export restrictions on rare earth minerals used in automotive and electronics manufacturing.
In another significant development, China will resume sharing hydrological data from key transboundary rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Sutlej whose data channels were closed in 2023 and 2020, respectively. These flows are vital for flood forecasting and infrastructure planning in northeastern India .
The officials also agreed to expedite the resumption of direct air services, with preparations underway for a revised Air Services Agreement. They underscored mutual efforts to simplify visa protocols and facilitate exchanges, including those among media, think tanks, and pilgrims for instance, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which resumed earlier this month .
India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that this dialogue is part of a broader effort to “stabilise and rebuild ties with focus on people-centric engagement” ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Experts say these steps address practical concerns ranging from rare earth supply certainty and river basin management to improved connectivity and people-to-people contacts and mark a further thaw in relations since the 2020 Ladakh border standoff.
India and China have also recommitted to resuming direct flights, increasing visa facilitation, promoting media and academic exchanges, and preparing for further high-level meetings, including the Special Representatives’ Boundary Mechanism.
