Jaishankar in Bhutan: EAM meets Foreign Minister, key talks on energy, trade and connectivity

Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said he thanked Dhungyel for hosting him in the "spiritual and historical centre of Bumthang".

Jaishankar said the two sides discussed ways to advance their multifaceted engagement in areas including development partnership, energy, trade, connectivity, culture and people-to-people ties.

"Today's discussions reflected the trust, goodwill and warmth of our ties," Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar is visiting Bhutan from September 16 to 17 at the invitation of Dhungyel, who is Bhutan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

During his visit, Jaishankar is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Bhutanese counterpart. He will also receive a royal audience with Bhutan's King and call on the Prime Minister of Bhutan, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan, and to further strengthen the existing close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries," the MEA said in a statement.

Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed by the two countries in 1949 provided the basic framework for bilateral relations and was revised in February 2007.

India and Bhutan share longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation, with relations strengthened over the years through regular high-level exchanges and close people-to-people connections.

Jaishankar visited Bhutan in June 2019 for his first overseas trip after assuming office as External Affairs Minister. He also visited the country in April 2022.