Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley, the first Prime Minister of the recently democ ratized Bhutan, visited India from July 14-17.

This was his first foreign trip after winning the historic elections in March 2008. Thinley was accompanied by a 42 member delegation who included Khandu Wangchuck – Minister of Economic Affairs, Wangdi Norbu – Finance Minister, and Ugyen Tshering – Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Cooperation, mutual understanding, friendship and political interaction have always characterized the relationship between and India and Bhutan. The multi-dimensional relationship that the two countries enjoy was manifested by the ceremonial and warm welcome given by the Indian government to the Bhutanese Prime Minister. Red carpet was rolled out for Thinley who also inspected the guard of honor.

Thinley held discussions with his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, and the Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee.

Bilateral Issues

Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley held talks with the Indian leaders on wide-ranging issues. At the economic front, the focus was on hydropower and Bhutan’s 10th Plan agenda. The Indian government made a commitment of Rs 59 billion as grant for the development of eight hydropower projects in Bhutan over the next five years; Rs 35 billion as assistance for the 10th Plan and Rs 12 billion for projects identified by Bhutan on a priority basis. Assistance in numerous non-plan activities in the field of infrastructure, rural, education, health and agriculture development were also assured.

Collaboration in power sector is an important pillar of India-Bhutan ties. India has also undertaken a slew of infrastructure development projects in Bhutan, which includes building of roads in the mountainous nation. All of Bhutan’s 20 districts are now accessible by road, with most of them being built by India’s Border Roads Organisation.

Power sector

Both the Prime Ministers expressed their willingness to work towards expanding the cooperation and economic ties in hydropower sector between the two nations. Power sector is one of the core areas of India-Bhutan cooperation. To further support the economic and infrastructural growth of the world’s youngest democracy, India has undertaken various infrastructure projects, including the construction of roads, in Bhutan.

Indian PM Visits Bhutan

The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Bhutan from May 16 to 17. He became the first international leader to have visited the Himalayan nation since its democratization in March this year. At Paro International Airport, Manmohan Singh’s Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Y Thinley welcomed him, presenting a silk scarf.

The citizens of Bhutan had lined up at the Paro airport and welcomed the Indian Prime Minister by waving Indian and Bhutanese flags together. The height of hospitality demonstrated by the Bhutanese to welcome the Indian Prime Minister was so overwhelming that he even stopped his convoy midway to personally meet the Bhutanese populace.

Thinley was also equally elated by the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. He said that India and Bhutan had been traditional friends and Manmohan Singh’s visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations. In reply to this, the Indian PM said that India was always willing and ready to make the bilateral ties even stronger and help in the development of Bhutan.

Transition Hailed

Year 2008 marks the centenary of the Wangchuck dynasty, 50 years of India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Bhtuan, coronation of young King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, and most remarkably the democratization of this Himalayan region.

Manmohan Singh congratulated and praised the government as well as citizens of Bhutan for the peaceful embracement of democracy.

India and Bhutan rail link

Addressing the national assembly, the Indian Prime Minister announced the impending rail link between the two countries. The rail link would be the first one between Bhutan and India and would connect Phuentsholing to Hashimara. The rail link would connect Bhutan to India’s entire rail network.

Global warming and Himalayan glaciers’ protection is the common concern of both the nations and they agreed to accelerate the cooperation in this regard. Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Bhutan has paved the path for greater political interaction, mutual cooperation, and improved relations between the two neighborhood democracies.

Highlighting a whopping Rs 10,000-crore economic engagement with the Himalayan nation, Dr. Singh unveiled mega bilateral ties in areas of telecommunication, infrastructure and education as well as in the power sector, in particular. In addition to agreeing to double the hydro-power generation target to 10,000 MW by 2020, India also offered to develop two new mega hydro-electric power projects– Punatsangchhu-II and Mangdechhu in Bhutan.

Bhutan’s power sector, producing around 1,500 MW of hydropower is one of the main sources of national revenue. In an attempt to further expand the sector, Dr Singh dedicated the Tala Hydropower Project to the people of both Bhutan and India.

Bhutan, with 35,000MW, has the largest hydropower potential in the world. India is now committed to buy 5,000MW from Bhutan by 2020. As Bhutan’s main development partner, India provides assistance for nearly all sectors of social development, particularly for hydropower development. Singh is the fifth Indian prime minister to visit Bhutan.