Bhutan royal family to visit India

New Delhi: A couple of months after the end of the military face-off between India and China over New Delhi’s refusal to allow the Chinese PLA to build a road in Bhutanese territory at Doklam, Bhutan’s royal couple will begin a four-day visit to India starting Tuesday. The current situation following the Doklam face-off resolution is likely to be discussed during the visit. The more than two month-long Doklam military face-off that ended on August 28 showed the world that India was capable of protecting Bhutanese territory as per the decades-long understanding between the two countries.

In a statement on Monday, the MEA said, “The King and Queen of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and His Royal Highness The Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, will be on a four day visit to India from October 31 to November 3, 2017. During the visit, His Majesty the King of Bhutan will meet with the President of India and the Prime Minister, who will host a dinner in honour of Their Majesties. The vice-president of India, external affairs minister and other ministers and senior officials will call on His Majesty, the King of Bhutan.”

The MEA added, “India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship, which are characterised by deep understanding and mutual trust. The visit of His Majesty the King of Bhutan is in keeping with the long standing tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. The visit would provide an opportunity to both the sides for reviewing the bilateral cooperation between the two nations.