New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Bhutan on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at reviewing and further strengthening bilateral ties between India and Bhutan. His visit is taking place from September 16 to 18 at the invitation of Bhutanese Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel.
During the visit, Jaishankar is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Dhungyel. He will also receive a royal audience with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and call on Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
The visit is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the two neighbouring countries and is expected to provide an opportunity to review the broad range of India-Bhutan cooperation. Both sides have maintained close engagement across development, energy, trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
Jaishankar's visit follows a visit to Bhutan by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in July for the fifth India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks for the country's 13th Five Year Plan. During those discussions, the two sides reviewed India's support of Rs.10,000 crore for Bhutan's 13th Five Year Plan covering 2024-29.
The July talks also saw an agreement to operationalise a concessional Rs.4,000-crore line of credit for energy projects in Bhutan. The two countries also discussed connectivity, trade and investment, development cooperation and other areas of mutual interest.
The latest ministerial visit comes against the backdrop of continued cooperation between New Delhi and Thimphu on development and energy. The two countries have also been working on cross-border connectivity and other projects intended to deepen economic integration.
Bhutan's Foreign Ministry said Jaishankar's visit is in keeping with the longstanding tradition of high-level exchanges and is intended to further strengthen the existing close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Jaishankar's engagements with Bhutanese leadership are expected to cover the broader bilateral relationship, while also providing an opportunity to discuss areas of ongoing cooperation and matters of mutual interest.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.