Jaishankar Holds Talks with Bhutanese Counterpart on Strengthening Development Partnership
India and Bhutan review cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity, culture and people to people ties during the External Affairs Minister’s two-day visit.
THIMPHU, Sep 16: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with Bhutanese Foreign Minister D N Dhungyel in Bumthang on Wednesday, reviewing bilateral cooperation across development, energy, trade, connectivity, culture and people to people relations.
Jaishankar is on a two-day official visit to Bhutan, during which he is scheduled to meet Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
After meeting Dhungyel, Jaishankar said the two sides reviewed their wide-ranging cooperation and discussed ways to further advance bilateral engagement.
The External Affairs Minister said the discussions reflected the trust, goodwill and warmth that characterise relations between the two countries. He also thanked Dhungyel for hosting him in Bumthang, regarded as one of Bhutan’s important spiritual and historical centres.
During his visit, Jaishankar inaugurated several projects aimed at supporting infrastructure and public services in Bhutan.
Among them was the 65-bed Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Mongar. The modern healthcare facility is expected to improve access to specialised maternal and child care in eastern Bhutan.
Jaishankar also inaugurated the Jaganathan Bridge in Samdrup Jongkhar, constructed under Project Dantak. The bridge is expected to enhance connectivity between Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan.
In another development, the minister laid the foundation stone for the 500 KW Lunana Hydropower Project in Gasa in northern Bhutan.
The visit also included cooperation in the agriculture and livestock sector. Jaishankar handed over 43 pureline Jersey cows to the National Cattle Breeding Centre in Bumthang to support Bhutan’s cattle breeding programme.
He said he was pleased to learn that the centre’s breeding programme would benefit around 40,000 farmers.
Jaishankar also visited the historic Wangduechhoeling Palace and Museum in Bumthang during his stay.
Earlier, the External Affairs Minister received a warm welcome from Foreign Minister Dhungyel upon his arrival in Paro.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit was part of the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and was aimed at further strengthening the close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The latest talks and project inaugurations underline the broad scope of bilateral engagement, covering infrastructure, healthcare, energy, agriculture and connectivity alongside the longstanding relationship between India and Bhutan.
