The state visit by Bhutan’s prime minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley, to India is his first foreign visit as the elected prime minister. It follows the historic visit by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Bhutan in May, his first bilateral visit to a SAARC nation, and the first foreign leader to visit Bhutan after its transition to democracy.
Leaders of both countries point out the symbolic importance of this exchange in the bilateral ties between Bhutan and India.
The Indian foreign secretary, Mr Shivshankar Menon, said that India was receiving the Bhutanese prime minister on a full state visit in respect for the elected leadership and was keen on taking forward the relationship that covered every aspect of human endeavour.
Leading the largest state-level delegation in Bhutanese history, Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley said that it was an expression of the importance that Bhutan placed in its relations with India. With the change in the political system in Bhutan, he said that it was an opportunity for politicians, bureaucrats, the private sector, and the media of the two countries to interact and build relations with their counterparts.
Meeting with Indian politicians, officials, journalists, scholars, and friends of Bhutan over the first two days the Bhutanese prime minister said that the relations between the two countries were important for political, historical, cultural, and security reasons.
While most Bhutanese people are keen to find out the breakdown of the Rs 100 billion Indian assistance announced by Dr Manmohan Singh in Thimphu, the lyonchhen said that the purpose of his visit was not to discuss technicalities but to strengthen the environment for bilateral cooperation. At a time when both countries were changing, it was important to deepen their understanding of each other.
He added, however, that he was confident that India’s overall assistance to Bhutan over the next five years would even exceed the Rs 100 billion figure that has been announced.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Thinley said that his government was fully committed to maintaining the continuity of Bhutan-India relations on the firm foundations that had been laid by the kings of Bhutan. His government was conscious that the exchanges over the four-day visit would have a substantive impact on the future course of bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Today, the lyonchhen will be presented a Guard Of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan and will call on President Pratibha D Patil and Vice President Md Hamid Ansari. He will meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who will host a banquet for the Bhutanese delegation. He will also meet other senior Indian leaders, including the foreign minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the opposition leader, Mr L K Advani, the home minister, Mr Shivraj Patil. He will also call on the Chairperson of the UPA, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Pranab Mukherjee congratulated the DPT government for its success in the elections and assured the Bhutanese delegation that the government of India would support the government of Bhutan, “in whatever form and manner” in all its efforts, including the 10th Plan.
Source: Kuenselonline
