Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, held a vital round of bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, both the leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation to further boost their relationship.
Terming the relationship between two countries as "exemplary and unique", Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan
Kwatra said, "we also have a time-tested framework of security cooperation. And as part of that, both countries maintain a longstanding tradition of very close consultations on matters relating to their mutual interest and, of course, security also.
Now in this context the intertwined and indivisible nature of our security concerns is self-evident".
He told a press conference that the visiting Bhutan King Jigme briefed PM Modi about the reforms initiatives taken by Bhutan.
He said, Prime Minister Modi also reiterated India’s full support for socio-economic development of Bhutan.
Talking about the outcomes of the meeting, Mr Kwatra said, India would step up its support for Bhutan's
upcoming 13th five-year plan. He said, India will also work to extend an additional standby credit facility and
shape long-term sustainable arrangements for export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan.
"We would work to shape long term sustainable arrangements for export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan.
Also work to develop long term bilateral arrangements for a short supply of critical commodities to Bhutan, which
would include petroleum, fertilizers, and coal," the Foreign Secretary said.
India’s concerns about certain issues in the region have grown since Bhutan and China signed an agreement in October
2021 for a “three-step roadmap” to expedite talks to resolve their boundary dispute.
Bhutan shares a border of more than 400 km with China.
The Indian side has said in statements in 2012 and 2017 that boundary issues at tri-junction points such as Doklam must be resolved with the involvement of all three countries. Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a 73-day standoff at
Doklam in 2017. The Doklam plateau is considered vital for India’s strategic interest.
Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, both sides will also work to develop long-term bilateral arrangements for
assured supply of critical commodities like petroleum and coal.
Both the countries are also examining and considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post along India-Bhutan
border, which would be near Jaigaon. He said, India and Bhutan will also expedite the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu
rail link project through Government of India support in consultation with the Bhutanese side.
This will be historic because it will be the first ever rail link between India and Bhutan.
Earlier in the morning, King Wangchuck paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also while External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had met
the King of Bhutan on Monday. After the bilateral meeting, the visiting dignitary met President Droupadi Murmu
at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The King of Bhutan was accompanied during the visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
Dr. Tandi Dorji and several senior officials of Bhutan government.
The Indian side also agreed to an increase in the tariff for power supplied from Bhutan’s Chhukha hydroelectric project, and to expedite the finalisation of new hydropower projects, including the Sankosh project.
In a tweet, PM Modi described his meeting with Wangchuck as “warm and productive” and maintained,
“Deeply value our close friendship and the vision of successive Druk Gyalpos in guiding India-Bhutan relations to
new heights".
ends
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