NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit to India, where he was warmly welcomed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. The King was accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan.
In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his honor in welcoming the Bhutanese King, stating, “His visit will further strengthen our unique bonds of friendship.” The visit aims to strengthen the longstanding bilateral relationship between India and Bhutan through a series of high-level meetings.
During his visit, King Wangchuck is scheduled to hold discussions with Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to review and enhance diplomatic ties. The Bhutanese monarch will also meet with Jaishankar and other senior officials from the Indian government, focusing on strengthening existing collaborations and exploring new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
The India-Bhutan relationship has deep roots, dating back to 1949 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The treaty was renewed in 2007 to reflect evolving dynamics. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1968, marking the enduring partnership between the two nations. This partnership is characterized by mutual trust, goodwill, and shared prosperity, particularly in areas like economic collaboration, space technology, and digital infrastructure.
Bhutan and India share significant economic interdependence, with approximately 50,000 Indian citizens employed in Bhutan across various sectors, such as construction, education, and infrastructure. In recent years, bilateral cooperation has expanded beyond traditional areas like hydropower to include digital infrastructure, space technology, and education.
Notably, Bhutan adopted the BHIM App in 2019, making it the second country to do so, enhancing financial linkages between the two nations. India has also supported Bhutan’s ‘Digital Drukyul’ initiative to build an optical fibre network across all 20 districts.
The King’s visit presents an opportunity to advance these initiatives and explore new areas of cooperation, further solidifying the strong friendship between India and Bhutan.
