King of Bhutan to visit India as part of high-level exchanges between two countries

The Bhutanese King will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, and senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The visit of the King of Bhutan is in keeping with the long-standing tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, an official statement said.

During the visit, the King of Bhutan will meet with President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior officials will call on the King of Bhutan.

India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are characterized by understanding and mutual trust.

The visit would provide an opportunity for both sides to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the close bilateral partnership, including economic and development cooperation, the statement said.

According to a Bhutanese statement: “The visit is a testament to the longstanding and deep-rooted friendship between Bhutan and India, and will further strengthen the close ties between the two countries.”

Meanwhile, Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering has said that he had said nothing new in his statements to the Belgian paper, La Libre, over Doklam and the Bhutan-China boundary talks, and there is also no change in position by Bhutan.

PM Tshering said, “I have said nothing new and there is no change in position.”

His statement comes after some media outlets “misunderstood and then went on to misrepresent” the Bhutanese PM’s interview alleging that Bhutan had changed its position on Doklam in the talks and that China was being given a new role.

The PM during his recent Europe tour had given an interview to journalist Sabine Verhest of the Belgian paper, La Libre, which is a popular daily newspaper that publishes in French.

(With UNI inputs)