The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Ambassador of Australia to Bhutan, Patrick Michael Suckling presented his credentials to His Majesty the King at the Tashi Chhodzong yesterday morning.
Ambassador Suckling also called on Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay and Foreign Minister Rinzin Dorji.
Lyonchhen extended a warm welcome to the ambassador and congratulated him for having presented his credentials to His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo. He said that Bhutan has great admiration and respect toward Australia for consistently providing valuable support and assistance.
Lyonchhen added that the two countries share a very special relationship and he has high hopes that the relationship will solidify during Bhutan.
Ambassador Suckling said that Australia shares Bhutan’s belief that growth must be inclusive and sustainable. He said that Australia will continue to be Bhutan’s development partner and identify new areas for partnership.
Lyonchhen expressed his appreciation for their support in human resource development and agriculture and said that Australia was very generous in accepting numerous Bhutanese students pursuing higher education and for fielding volunteers to Bhutan.
The ambassador informed Lyonchhen that Australia will further enhance people to people connections, invest in sustainable ventures like green and inclusive businesses and take up initiatives to allow more Bhutanese people to study in his country.
Lyonchhen also conveyed that Bhutan has benefitted a lot from the assistance received from their government since the 1960s through the Colombo Plan. Bhutan established formal diplomatic ties with Australia in September, 2002.
Prior to his appointment as the Ambassador of Australia to India, his previous overseas assignments include Washington and New Delhi. In 2OO7, Suckling was Adviser to the Australian Foreign Minister.
Bhutan and Australia was established in September, 2OO2. Ambassador Suckling succeeds Ambassador Peter Varghese as the new Ambassador of Australia to Bhutan.
