The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley called on the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.
The Prime Minister said he was visiting India to convey the gratitude of the Bhutanese people for the substantial support and assistance rendered by the government and the people of India to Bhutan’s development, the democratic transition and the high importance attached by India to bilateral relations with Bhutan.
President Pranab Mukherjee said India values its relationship with Bhutan and commended Lyonchhen’s pioneering role as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Bhutan.
Lyonchhen also met with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today during which the two Prime Ministers reviewed the state of relationship between the two countries and expressed satisfaction on the growing ties, mutual goodwill and friendship.
Aside from thanking India for its support and assistance, Lyonchhen discussed other issues of mutual interest such as cooperation in the area of hydropower and further integrating the two economies. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh assured that the government of India will fulfill all the commitments to Bhutan, including in the hydropower sector.
The two Prime Ministers, over a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his residence, also agreed to institute a structured forum for policy dialogues between the two countries.
Lyonchhen also called on the Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
The Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and General Secretary of Congress Digvijay Singh called on Lyonchhen. During the meeting, the Finance Minister assured Lyonchhen that India would honour all the commitments.
Before Lyonchhen’s departure to Bhutan on, February 9, the National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon is scheduled to call on Lyonchhen.
According to a press release the two-day visit has further deepened the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India.
Lyonchhen is accompanied by Minister In-Charge of Foreign Affairs Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
