New Delhi: Bhutanese foreign minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji will begin a week-long official visit to India from Sunday. He will also visit Bodh Gaya and Kolkata besides New Delhi, where he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar.
In a statement, the MEA said, “The minister of foreign affairs of Bhutan H.E. Lyonpo (Dr.) Tandi Dorji will be paying a visit to India from 17-23 November 2019. During the visit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart external affairs minister Dr S. Jaishankar and review the entire gamut of India-Bhutan relations. He will also pay a visit to Bodhgaya and Rajgir, Bihar on 19-20 November and Kolkata, West Bengal on 21-22 November 2019.”
The MEA added, India and Bhutan share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by mutual trust, goodwill and understanding. During the visit, the two sides will hold discussions on various aspects of bilateral relations, including economic cooperation, development partnership and hydro-power cooperation. Lyonpo Tandi Dorji’s visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular visits and exchange of views at the highest level between the two countries.”
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Bhutan in August this year. During that visit, the two neighbours had “reaffirmed their commitment to maintain close coordination on matters affecting each others’ security and national interests”. India’s efforts at increasing engagement with Bhutan come at a time when China has been keen to strengthen ties with Bhutan.
The region had been shaken by the military stand-off between the Indian and Chinese armies at Doklam in Bhutanese territory two years ago.
The issue had then been eventually resolved mutually between India and China after several weeks but it reinforced the strategic importance of Bhutan for India. India continues to have very close strategic ties with Bhutan.
