New Chapter In India-Bhutan Ties as Assam CM Visits Himalayan Nation
First Published: 17th December, 2024 16:11 IST
Dr Sarma is also likely to have a private meeting with King Wangchcuk besides meeting the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
A new chapter in New Delhi-Thimphu ties have been created with Chief Minister of the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma making a historic 4-day visit to Bhutan where he was the chief guest at the Himalayan nation’s 117th National Day celebrations today.
In the first 24 hours of his visit itself, Dr Sarma had met King Jigme Khesar Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck twice, one of which was an official audience that His Majesty had granted to the Chief Minister’s team that comprised his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. The Chief Minister also had a one-on-one meeting with the Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and discussed a wide gamut of issues that includes collaboration in the hydropower sector, agriculture, trade and business and above all, the way forward to further consolidate the people-to-people relations between the two neighbours.
Dr Sarma is also likely to have a private meeting with King Wangchcuk besides meeting the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
Last night King Wangchuck surprised Dr Sarma, and about a 100 other guests attending a presentation on the investment scenario in Assam by walking in unannounced at the meeting venue.
The importance that Bhutan is according to the Assam CM’s visit was demonstrated from the time he landed at Paro International Airport yesterday where he was received by the Bhutanese Foreign Minister.
Dr Sarma will also be given a presentation on King Wangchuck’s grand vision on setting up a mega city called Gelephu Mindfulness City right on the border of western Assam.
The presentation will be made by former Prime Minister Lotay Tshering who is currently the Governor of the Gelephu Mindfulness City. Thimphu is definitely aware that Assam will have a major role to play by way of transit facility and other logistic support during the building of the mega city in Gelephu.
Earlier in November last year, King Wangchuck became the first Bhutanese monarch to have paid an official visit to Assam despite the proximity of the two places. It was during this visit that Dr Sarma and King Wangchuck had struck a rapport.
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