India and China have decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025, marking a significant step in rebuilding bilateral relations. The pilgrimage had been suspended since 2020 due to pandemic-related disruptions and border tensions.
India and China to Resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025
The agreement was reached during a meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. The meeting, part of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism, also resulted in the two countries agreeing to restart direct flights and explore further cooperation on hydrological data sharing and trans-border rivers.
Agreement Includes Resumption of Direct Flights and Strengthened Bilateral Ties
“The two sides decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025, with modalities to be discussed under existing agreements. An early meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism will also address cooperation on hydrological data and other issues,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
The discussions align with agreements made between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. Both nations are working toward stabilizing relations, especially in light of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025.
To commemorate this milestone, India and China plan to organize public diplomacy efforts, media exchanges, and cultural interactions to foster mutual understanding and trust. They also emphasized the importance of resuming functional dialogues on economic and trade matters to promote policy transparency and long-term stability.
The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and disengagement in Ladakh’s Depsang and Demchok regions in 2024 reflect both countries' commitment to restoring peace and normalcy along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
These developments signal a positive shift in India-China relations, with both nations focusing on rebuilding trust and exploring avenues for cooperation.