Visit of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to India

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 6 November 2023. Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in Delhi on November 5 as part of his eight-day visit to India starting from November 3, 2023.

External Minister S. Jaishankar extended a welcome at the airport: 

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's warm reception at the airport underscored India's commitment to the visit's significance. 
• Wangchuk's trip coincides with Bhutan and China's renewed push to resolve their long-standing border conflict. 
• India is closely watching the talks between Bhutan and China on this issue, as it could impact India's security interests, particularly in the Doklam region.

Bhutan King's eight-day visit to India:

• Wangchuk's eight-day visit to India began on November 3 from Guwahati. After initially completing a two-day visit to Assam, the Bhutanese King reached New Delhi on 5 November. After this he will also go to Maharashtra.
• India and Bhutan share wonderful relations of friendship and cooperation. The basis of this relationship is mutual understanding and mutual trust.
• The visit will provide an opportunity to both sides to review the entire bilateral cooperation.
• This visit will help in taking forward the exemplary bilateral partnership in various fields.
• In a social media post, Modi said they had a warm and positive discussion on various aspects of the wonderful and exemplary India-Bhutan relations.
• The Prime Minister said he attaches great importance to the vision of the King of Bhutan for development and the welfare of the people of Bhutan.

Why is Bhutan King's visit to India important?

• As of November 2, the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that the Bhutanese King's visit offers a chance for both sides to assess the complete spectrum of bilateral cooperation and advance partnerships across various domains. 
• In the previous month, Bhutan's Foreign Minister, Tandi Dorji, engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing.

Bhutan supports the principle of one China:

• According to China's statement following the discussions, Bhutan steadfastly upholds the one-China principle, expressing readiness to collaborate with China to promptly resolve the border matter and advance the establishment of diplomatic relations through a political process. 
• China and Bhutan had agreed to take rapid steps to implement a three-phase framework to resolve their border dispute in August.

Bhutan:

• Capital: Thimphu
• Currency: Ngultrum
• Prime Minister: Lotay Tshering
• King: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
• Foreign Minister: Tandi Dorji