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Bhutan
and India : towards greater heights |
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12
June 2004 - Bhutan and India are satisfied with the
ongoing economic cooperation, particularly in the hydro power
sector which was of mutual benefit to both the countries, and
officials of the two countries expressed their firm commitment
to further strengthen the bilateral relations in the years ahead.
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On an official visit to New Delhi from June 7 to 10 on the invitation of the Indian foreign minister, Mr Natwar Singh, the Bhutanese foreign minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, met the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, held extensive discussions with Mr Natwar Singh as well as the ministers for power, finance, commerce and industry, the national security advisor, and the other senior officials. |
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Returning
to Bhutan on June 10, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said the Indian
leaders had given their full assurance that they would “continue
to support Bhutan’s economic development and that all assistance
agreed and required for the Ninth Plan would be provided”.
“During the meetings the Indian leaders all reiterated their full support for further strengthening and intensifying India’s cooperation with Bhutan,” said the spokesman for the ministry of external affairs, Mr Navtej Sarna. “India has expressed full support for cooperation in Bhutan’s Ninth Plan.” Speaking from New Delhi, Mr Sarna told Kuensel that prime minister Manmohan Singh also formally conveyed India’s appreciation to the Bhutanese government for evicting the northeast insurgent groups from its territory. Officials added that the Indian leaders had also conveyed their full assurances that they would prevent any retaliatory action against Bhutan by the militants. Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, who was accompanied by Bhutan’s ambassador to India, Lyonpo Dago Tshering, and senior foreign ministry officials, said that he had received a warm reception in India. “All the Indian leaders that I met expressed their appreciation, high regards and deep respect for the leadership and far-sighted policies of His Majesty the King,” he told Kuensel. “There is tremendous goodwill among the people and the leaders in India for Bhutan and I can confidently say that the relationship between our two countries will be even taken to greater heights in the coming years.” The foreign minister expressed the appreciation of the people and the government of Bhutan to the people and the government of India for their generous assistance and unstinted support for the country’s socio-economic development. By
Karma Choden |
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