China Southern to resume Guangzhou-Delhi flights after 6 years ahead of Xi's Brics visit

China Southern Airlines will restart regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, the Global Times reported on Saturday.The announcement came ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the Brics summit. The airline said the resumption would take its total operations across eight round-trip routes in South Asia to more than 100 flights a week. The Guangzhou-New Delhi service had been suspended for six years.Direct air links between India and China returnAir connectivity between India and China has gradually improved in recent months.Air China resumed its Beijing-Delhi service in April, while China Eastern Airlines restarted direct flights between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18.Indian carrier IndiGo also launched a daily non-stop service between Kolkata and Shanghai on March 30. The airline had earlier restored flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou and later began operating from Delhi to the Chinese city.The resumption of direct flights followed confirmation from India’s ministry of external affairs. Air links between the two countries had been suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid tensions following the Doklam and Galwan standoffs.Xi leaves for Brics summitXi left Beijing on Saturday for the 18th Brics summit in New Delhi at Modi’s invitation, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.The Chinese president is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.Xi’s delegation includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and director of its General Office, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.According to Xinhua, Xi is expected to advance proposals on cooperation among Global South countries, building on his remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.Brics has become a major platform for emerging economies to coordinate on trade, finance, technology, development and global governance. The grouping also seeks to promote greater cooperation among countries of the Global South.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.