Thimphu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived Bhutan on Sunday to cement India’s ‘unique and special relationship’ with Bhutan and his thrust to make the ties more effective.
Modi, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, was received at the Paro airport by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and several of his Cabinet colleagues.
Big hoardings carrying Modi’s photographs also could be seen en route.
Soon after his arrival, Modi called on Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.
The fact that the Prime Minister chose Bhutan as his first foreign destination assumes significance since China has lately intensified efforts to woo it and establish full-fledged diplomatic ties with Thimphu.
In his pre-departure statement, Modi said relations with Bhutan will be a key foreign policy priority of his government.
“I am looking forward to my first-ever visit to Bhutan and to nurturing and further strengthening India’s special relations with Bhutan,” said Modi before undertaking the trip at the invitation of Bhutan’s King and the Prime Minister.
“Our relations with Bhutan are unique and especially warm. Our historical and cultural linkages make us natural friends and partners,” Foreign Secretary Singh told a press conference in Delhi.
“Bhutan is one of our most important strategic partners ….It is a very good country to show our policy of good neighbourliness in South Asia and special token of our friendship,” she said explaining why Bhutan was chosen as the first foreign destination of Modi.
Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Tobgay during his visit which will see the two sides exploring ways to boost their ties, particularly in trade and hydro-electricity.
He will also address the joint session of the Parliament of Bhutan. He will also inaugurate one of India’s assistance projects – the building of the Supreme Court of Bhutan.
Modi visit to further strengthen ties: Bhutan PM
Thimphu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friendly and very knowledgeable person and Bhutan will use his maiden foreign visit as an ‘opportunity’ to further cement the already strong ties, his Bhutanese counterpart has said.
“He is a friendly person and obviously very knowledgeable and well disposed towards Bhutan… He is very aware of the details of the India-Bhutan relationship and overall gives a sense of purpose and hope,” Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said about the 63-year-old Indian leader.
Modi arrived here on Sunday on his first foreign trip since becoming Prime Minister last month and a grand welcome was accorded to him by the Bhutanese government which rolled out a red carpet and gave a ceremonial guard of honour to him.
“For one, we are going to take this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and use the opportunity to further cement the already strong ties of friendship,” Tobgay, who will hold bilateral talks with Modi, was quoted as saying by The Bhutanese newspaper.
He said the primary focus of the talks would be on strengthening ties, but Bhutan would discuss all the commitments made and the generous support that the government receives from India.
On hydropower projects, he said they would discuss the situation which is good as of now.
He said Bhutan looks forward to strengthening the economic partnership with India and to boost its economy.
Tobgay said that Indian companies are already investing in Bhutan and that Bhutan needed to fast-track its work with the Indian private sector.
He expressed confidence that Modi’s visit would take the friendship between two countries to further heights.
