Zee Media Bureau/Sushmita Dutta
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Supreme Court of Bhutan with Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay pic.twitter.com/oEyam5HDcK
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2014
B2B ties! @PMOIndia in talks with PM @tsheringtobgay describes "Bharat- Bhutan" relations as B2B ties. pic.twitter.com/I9EhjyXfSB
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 15, 2014
The King of Bhutan will host a lunch in honour of the prime minister and his delegation before they depart from Thimphu on June 16, as per reports.
According to sources, PM Modi and King of Bhutan discussed bilateral ties between the two countries.
The PM meeting His Majesty the King of Bhutan pic.twitter.com/4YwXw8yZe9
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2014
It is a welcoming step,shows Modi ji wants to open a new chapter in strengthening foreign policy-Sudhanshu Trivedi (BJP)on PM's Bhutan visit
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2014
Guard of Honour for @PMOIndia at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu. pic.twitter.com/s1dtIxMc8n
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 15, 2014
Perfect setting! Bhutan ceremonially welcomes India's Prime Minister @narendramodi on his1st trip abroad. pic.twitter.com/1nPxvGuXXU
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 15, 2014
Friendly gesture! @tsheringtobgay welcomes @PMOIndia in Bhutan on his 1st visit abroad. pic.twitter.com/E9shOmfk0j
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 15, 2014
Bhutan's PM @tsheringtobgay welcomes @PMOIndia on arrival in Thimpu pic.twitter.com/EL0GaEZFi8
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) June 15, 2014
Also Read: Modi arrives in Bhutan to a red carpet welcome
Embarking on his first foreign visit since taking over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bhutan on Sunday to cement India`s "unique and special relationship" with this SAARC country and his thrust to make the ties more effective.
A grand welcome was accorded to him by the Bhutanese government which rolled out a red carpet and gave a ceremonial guard of honour to him.
Modi, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, was received at the Paro airport by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and several of his Cabinet colleagues.
The Prime Minister drove down from Paro to Thimphu, a distance of about 50 kms, traversing through the picturesque mountainous ranges. Common people, including children, in colourful attire lined up most of the road between Paro and Thimphu, waving Indian and Bhutanese flags.
Big hoardings carrying Modi`s photographs also could be seen en route.
The fact that the Prime Minister chose Bhutan as his first foreign destination assumes significance since China has lately intensified efforts to woo it and establish full- fledged diplomatic ties with Thimphu.
`Modi government will take neighbours along to path of prosperity`
The new Indian government`s foreign policy focus on its South Asian neighbourhood and to work towards creating a peaceful, stable and economically inter-linked neighbourhood "bodes well" not only for the collective SAARC but also for Bhutan as the Narendra Modi government will "take everybody along to the path of prosperity", says an editorial in a Bhutanese daily.
The Bhutanese, in an editorial ahead of Modi`s two-day visit to the Himalayan country that began Sunday, said that "Bhutan, as an old friend, would want India to do well and surge ahead in the global scene as experience in the past has shown that the economic rise and prosperity of India has translated into benefits for Bhutan, including other countries in the region."
"However, for any major country or regional bloc, they can only ever truly rise on the global platform if their neighborhood is stable and happy, so to speak. The new dispensation in New Delhi led by Mr Modi has wisely realized this, and is thus, focusing with renewed energy and depth in its own neighborhood which is loaded with a lot of potential and unexplored opportunities, apart from the well known challenges," says the editorial.
Modi a friendly person, visit to further strengthen ties: Bhutan PM
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday begins a two-day visit to Bhutan, the Bhutanese leadership has described the Indian leader as "a friendly person and well disposed towards Bhutan" and as one who "gives a sense of purpose and hope".
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said that even though there are no specific issues to discuss during the meeting with Modi from Bhutan`s side, all commitments made and the generous support that the government receives from India will be discussed, according to The Bhutanese daily.
Tobgay described the Indian prime minister as: "He is a friendly person and obviously very knowledgeable and well disposed towards Bhutan. He holds our kings in very high esteem. He is very aware of the details of the India-Bhutan relationship and overall gives a sense of purpose and hope."
Tobgay, in response to a question on hydropower, said that both the prime ministers would discuss the situation "which is good as of now".
Bhutan is a natural choice for my first foreign visit: PM Modi
On the eve of his visit, Modi on Saturday said that Bhutan was a "natural choice" as his first foreign destination because of the "unique and special relationship" and his trip would focus on making development cooperation "even more effective". In his pre-departure statement, Modi said relations with Bhutan will be a key foreign policy priority of his government.
"I am looking forward to my first-ever visit to Bhutan and to nurturing and further strengthening India`s special relations with Bhutan", said Modi who is undertaking a two-day trip at the invitation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
"I travel to Bhutan with immense happiness and a strong desire to further strengthen our already strong bond", he said.
He explained why he chose Bhutan as the country of his first foreign visit, three weeks after assuming charge.
"Bound by common interests and shared prosperity, India and Bhutan enjoy a unique and special relationship which has been forged by ties of geography, history and culture.
Therefore, Bhutan as the destination for my first visit abroad as Prime Minister is a natural choice", the Prime Minister said.
