Modi holds talks with Bhutan PM on ways to strengthen ties
Tshering Tobgay is on a fiveday visit to India, External Affairs Ministry says this gives two sides to review progress in the unique partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held extensive talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay focusing on ways to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.
The talks took place hours after Mr. Tobgay began a fiveday visit to India, his first foreign trip after assuming the charge of the top office in January.
Mr. Tobgay was received at the airport in New Delhi by Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey. “The visit of @PMBhutan is in keeping with the exemplary ties of friendship between India & Bhutan,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on ◣. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on extending cooperation in the field of energy efficiency.
The Cabinet also cleared
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Bhutan counterpart, Tshering Tobgay, in New Delhi on Thursday.
the signing of an agreement between Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said Mr. Tobgay’s visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review the progress in the “unique partnership” and to discuss ways to expand the “enduring” ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan.
Mr. Tobgay’s visit to India came against the back
drop of China and Bhutan looking at an expeditious resolution of their festering boundary row that could have implications for India’s security interests.
A Chinese readout on the talks said Bhutan firmly abides by the oneChina principle and stands ready to work with China for an early settlement of the boundary issue.
New Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for New Delhi’s security interests.