India and China are actively negotiating to resume border trade, and relations are expected to ease.

According to the Indian media outlet "India Today" website on August 15, India and China are actively negotiating to resume border trade.

Since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, cross-border trade between the two sides has been suspended for five years. The negotiations indicate that bilateral relations may be easing.

The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that both sides are discussing the resumption of cross-border trade at three designated mountain passes: Lipulekh in Uttarakhand, Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh, and Nathu La in Sikkim.

These trade points are crucial for the livelihoods of border communities, mainly trading local specialties such as spices, carpets, wooden furniture, medicinal plants, and wool. Although the volume of trade is not large, it carries symbolic significance.

Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Randhir Singh said that India will continue to engage with China to push for the resumption of trade through key mountain passes and will provide updates during the negotiation process. According to the report, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed willingness to enhance coordination and communication, recognizing the historical importance of border trade in the border areas of the two countries.

In addition, the Chinese Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit India on August 18, 2025, which will be the first since the 2020 border conflict, and is expected to focus on resolving border disputes.

The two countries also plan to resume direct flights that were interrupted since the pandemic. Air India and IndiGo have been instructed to prepare for the resumption of flights in a short time to promote people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation.

These measures come at a time when India is facing economic pressures such as increased export tariffs by the United States. Resuming border trade and improving Sino-Indian relations will help India diversify its economic partners and alleviate external pressures.

Indian Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit China on August 28 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and conduct further bilateral consultations with Chinese leaders.

In general, the resumption of border trade, direct flights, and high-level diplomatic meetings show that India and China are cautiously and proactively promoting the normalization of their relations after years of tension.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840504465669128/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.