PM reaches Bhutan in first foreign visit

The Prime Minister, whose visit will focus on hydropower cooperation with Bhutan, is accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Advisor Ajit Dobhal, besides foreign secretary Sujatha Singh.

Modi will meet Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

Mr Modi will also address the joint session of the Parliament of Bhutan. He will also inaugurate one of India's assistance projects -- the building of the Supreme Court of Bhutan.

In a statement before leaving for Bhutan, Modi said: "Bound by common interests and shared prosperity, India and Bhutan enjoy a unique and special relationship, which has been forged by ties of geography, history and culture. Therefore, Bhutan as the destination for my first visit abroad as Prime Minister is a natural choice. Relations with Bhutan will be a key foreign policy priority of my government."

"During my visit, I will have the opportunity to hold detailed discussions with His Majesty the King, His Majesty the Fourth King and the Prime Minister of Bhutan on the entire gamut of our bilateral relations.

"Bhutan's peaceful and smooth transition to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy has been a success story. Its orderly conduct of elections is testimony to the consolidation of its democracy, in accordance with the wise vision of Their Majesties. During my visit, I will have the honour to address the Joint Session of the Parliament of Bhutan," said the PM.

"The Government of India has been a privileged and leading partner of Bhutan in its socio-economic development. We rejoice in Bhutan's remarkable economic growth and its progress and prosperity. We are committed to continuing our unstinted support to Bhutan in its development efforts. I will review with the Bhutanese leadership our development cooperation programme to make it even more effective and responsive to the changing aspirations of the people of Bhutan. I will also inaugurate one of our assistance projects during this visit, i.e., the building of the Supreme Court of Bhutan.

"Our Hydropower cooperation with Bhutan is a classic example of win-win cooperation and a model for the entire region. During the visit, we will lay the Foundation Stone of the 600 MW Kholongchu Hydropower Project.

"People-to-people contact is an important aspect of our bilateral relations. I intend to discuss with the Bhutanese leadership how to further strengthen these contacts between our countries, particularly among the youth. In this regard, the role of educational links will be very important. I am looking forward to my first-ever visit to Bhutan and to nurturing and further strengthening India's special relations with Bhutan," said Modi.