Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met on Tuesday and held discussions on five issues in order to expand relations between the two nations.
PM Modi, in a tweet, said that they had a ‘warm and productive meeting’, and that he deeply values the close friendship with Bhutan.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, when asked if the Doklam issue figured in the talks, said that India-Bhutan ties are based on ‘mutual respect, trust, close understanding and sensitivity’ and that the King and PM Modi covered all the issues of bilateral cooperation, including of ‘respective national interests’.
"If you look at the framework of your question, look at context of the framework, look at the centre of that context and perspective, then naturally, India's national interests, Bhutan's national interests, and the interest of India-Bhutan relationship comes up at the centre of all that," Kwatra said, adding further on the Doklam issue.
The Foreign Secretary said that the proposed rail link between Assam’s Kokrajhar and Bhutan’s Gelephy will be expedited to establish the first rail link between India and Bhutan.
PM Modi and King Wangchuk discussed economic and development partnership, including cooperation for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan that begins next year.
Issues relating to trade, connectivity and investment cooperation, long-term and sustainable trade facilitation, and cooperation in areas of energy were discussed in the meeting between PM Modi and the Bhutanese King.
In the meeting between PM Modi and King Wangchuk, cooperation in new sectors including space and startups was also discussed.
King Wangchuk called on President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday. The President welcomed the Bhutanese King to India and said that the nations enjoy a close partnership in all levels, based on ‘mutual trust, goodwill and understanding’.
President Murmu said that India is proud to support projects in Bhutan in sectors such as health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, digitization and skill development, and ensured continuation of the partnership.