To ensure adequate direct air connectivity, India and China on Thursday agreed to substantially increase the number of flights and destinations between them.
After two days of bilateral air services talks in New Delhi, the two sides agreed, "to consider significant enhancement of traffic rights from the present level of seven flights per week. There was also a need to increase the points of call in both countries, which are presently restricted to two destinations as well as the number of intermediate and beyond points," an official spokesperson said.
Following a "broad consensus" reached in the current round of talks, a formal agreement spelling out the details on various issues is likely to be finalised and signed during the ensuing visit to of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao early next month.
The last round of bilateral talks were held almost eight years ago in May 1997.
While the Indian side was led by civil aviation secretary Ajay Prasad, the visiting Chinese delegation was led by Yang Guoqing, vice minister, General Administration of Civil Aviation.
