Thimphu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Friday on a two-day state visit with the aim of further strengthening India’s unique relations with Bhutan under the Neighborhood First policy. Modi was given a grand welcome on his arrival at Paro airport. He was received by Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at the airport. The 45 km long route from Paro International Airport to Thimphu was decorated with flags of India and Bhutan and the Bhutanese people standing on both sides of the route warmly welcomed Prime Minister Modi.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Friday that the visit is in line with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and the government’s efforts to emphasize the Neighborhood First policy. The Prime Minister of Bhutan wrote in Hindi on social media platform X, ‘Welcome to Bhutan, my elder brother.’ Earlier, Modi had made a post on ‘X’ about his visit to Bhutan. He said, ‘I am on my way to Bhutan, where I will participate in various programs aimed at further strengthening India-Bhutan partnership. I am excited to meet the King of Bhutan, the fourth King of Bhutan and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from Delhi for state visit to Bhutan, postponed due to bad weather
PM Modi will stay in Bhopal for two days
PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan was to take place from March 21 to 22, but it was postponed due to bad weather in Bhutan. During this visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan. He will also hold talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay. The Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement earlier this week that the visit would allow both sides to exchange views on bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest and to expand and strengthen their mutually exemplary partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries. Will provide an opportunity to discuss the modalities.
Foreign Ministry statement
The Ministry of External Affairs had said in its statement that India and Bhutan have a unique and permanent partnership based on mutual trust, understanding and goodwill. The Ministry of External Affairs said, ‘Our common spiritual heritage and warm relations between the people of the two countries add closeness and vibrancy to our extraordinary relations.’ He will also inaugurate ‘Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital’, a hospital with modern facilities built with the cooperation of the Government of India in Thimphu. Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay went on a five-day visit to India last week. This was his first foreign trip after assuming the top post in January.
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Tags: bhutan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
FIRST PUBLISHED: March 22, 2024, 12:12 IST