Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has officially commenced his visit to India, with a scheduled stay from November 3 to 10. The royal dignitary was warmly received at Guwahati airport by the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who expressed his delight in welcoming King Wangchuck. The Bhutanese monarch is being accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking officials from the Bhutanese government.

Taking to X, Sarma stated, "On behalf of the people of Assam, I am elated to welcome His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan. Under the guidance of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, we look forward to the strengthening of the special relationship between our two countries."

Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, "A warm welcome to His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on his first official visit to Assam. Welcomed by CM @himantabiswa at the Guwahati airport."

During his visit, the Bhutanese King is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs in an official statement. Additionally, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and senior officials from the Indian government will also call on the Bhutanese King. As part of his itinerary, the Bhutanese King is set to travel to Maharashtra.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized, "India and Bhutan share a distinctive friendship and cooperation marked by mutual trust and understanding. This visit offers an opportunity for both nations to comprehensively assess their bilateral cooperation across various sectors and further enhance their exceptional partnership."

Back in April of this year, the Bhutanese King paid a visit to India, where he met with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

After the meeting on April 5 between PM Modi and the Bhutanese King, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra disclosed that the two countries were exploring the possibility of establishing the first Integrated Check Post (ICP) along the India-Bhutan border.

In response to a series of questions regarding the Bhutan Prime Minister's recent statements, which appeared to differ from Thimpu's previous position on the China-India boundary matter, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, the Foreign Secretary, affirmed that India and Bhutan maintain a strong and ongoing dialogue. They coordinate closely on shared national interests, particularly concerning security matters.

Kwatra emphasized that both nations have a well-established tradition of engaging in extensive consultations regarding their mutual interests, with a specific focus on security concerns. He highlighted the unmistakable interconnectedness and indivisibility of their shared security interests.

According to a Chinese statement, Bhutan supports the one-China principle and aims to resolve its boundary issue with China, potentially impacting New Delhi's security interests, notably in the Doklam tri-junction.

Image source: ANI