China and India have agreed to resume direct commercial flights, in the latest sign of an easing of tensions between the world’s two most populous countries.

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years and work on resolving differences over trade and economic issues, New Delhi said, as relations continue to thaw after a deadly 2020 border clash.

Direct flights between major nations allow for easier business exchanges, tourism, and cultural interactions. When political or health crises interrupt these connections, it often takes time to restore them.