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14 February, 2007 - President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh offered their felicitations to His Majesty the King as they welcomed His Majesty on his first visit to India as the Druk Gyalpo. During the six-day royal visit His Majesty also met with Indian leaders from all sections of the government and society as well as numerous friends and well wishers who came to offer their felicitations. Leaders in India expressed appreciation that the first visit abroad by the Fifth Druk Gyalpo was to India. It was a clear manifestation of the deep bonds of friendship and historical ties that bind the two countries. A joint press statement released by the two countries said that “the visit further enhanced the mutual goodwill, trust, understanding and friendship between the governments, leaders and peoples of the two countries”. |
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| His Majesty with the chairperson of the UPA Smt. Sonia Gandhi | ||
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sides expressed confidence that under the reign of the Fifth Druk
Gyalpo these ties would further deepen and strengthen. The government
of India paid warm tribute to the leadership of the Fourth Druk
Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in making Indo- Bhutan
relations an exemplary model of good neighbourly relations.
The visit from February 7-12 was marked by the signing of the historic India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty 2007. The treaty reflects the contemporary nature of Indo-Bhutan relations and lays the firm foundation for their further development in the 21st century and will enable the intensification of relations in trade and economic cooperation, hydropower, human resource development, cultural and people to people exchanges. “The updated treaty with Bhutan reflects the ground realities,” said the Indian foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee. “The treaty which was signed in 1949 immediately after Independence of India required revision and we did so without any problems. This reflects that India wants to extend its hand of cooperation to all countries on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.” “We are grateful to His Majesty for taking the trouble to come to Delhi from Thimphu to sign the treaty,” said the foreign minister. During the visit His Majesty met the President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, held talks with the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and met the Chairperson of the UPA, Smt. Sonia Gandhi. His Majesty extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Bhutan, which was accepted. The dates for the visit are to be decided through diplomatic channels. The foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A.K Antony, finance minister P. Chidambaram, home minister Shivraj Patel, deputy chairman of the planning commission Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, leader of the opposition L.K. Advani and other senior officials of the Indian government called on His Majesty. |
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| The joint press release stated that both sides held cordial exchange of views and discussions on bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues and expressed their satisfaction at the excellent state of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. The governments of India and Bhutan agreed that the destinies of their two countries were closely linked and that there was immense potential for further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. In this context they expressed satisfaction at the successful commencement of commercial operations of the Tala Hydroelectric project and it was also agreed to put on fast track the development of other power projects. The government of India reaffirmed its full support to Bhutan during its period of transition to a democratic constitutional monarchy including the forthcoming elections and reiterated its commitment to provide all possible assistance within its resources to Bhutan in its socio economic development programme including the on-going plan and the forthcoming 10th Five Year Plan. The two sides also agreed to upgrade the liaison offices in Phuentsholing and Kolkata to Consulate General. His Majesty the King was accompanied by the foreign minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, and other senior officials of the government during the visit. By
Ugyen Penjore |
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