Press Release

Visit to India by H.E. (Dr.) Tandi Dorji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, from
17 to 23 November 2019

H.E. Lyonpo (Dr.) Tandi Dorji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited India from 17 to 23 November 2019 at the invitation of H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, Government of India. This was Lyonpo’s first bilateral visit to India.

In their meeting in New Delhi on 18 November, Lyonpo and H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar discussed the entire range of Bhutan-India relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the special friendship that exists between the two countries. They reviewed the progress of cooperation in Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan and cooperation in other areas, including hydropower development, establishment of the Multi-disciplinary Super-specialty Hospital and enhancing connectivity through railway links. Lyonpo briefed Dr. Jaishankar about Bhutan’s plans to implement a revised tourism policy, particularly in regard to regional tourism, and sought the Government of India’s understanding and support in its implementation. Lyonpo also held meetings in New Delhi with H.E. Shri. Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home Affairs and H.E. Shri. Vijay Gokhale, Foreign Secretary of India.

Lyonpo also visited Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Kolkata. He visited the Bhutanese Monastery in Bodh Gaya and the site of the ongoing construction of the Bhutanese temple in Rajgir. He also met with the Bhutanese students who are currently studying at the Nalanda University in Rajgir. In Kolkata, Lyonpo called on H.E. Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of West Bengal and had meetings with H.E. Shri Rajiva Sinha, Chief Secretary of West Bengal and Mr. S.B. Chakrabarti, General Secretary of the Asiatic Society.

The visit was in keeping with the well-established tradition of regular exchange of high-level visits between Bhutan and India. It helped further strengthen the friendship, trust, understanding and mutual respect that exist between the two countries.