Bhutan fetes Modi with rare honour, inks 7 pacts

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Bhutan kicked off with seven agreements signed to boost bilateral cooperation. During his visit, Modi was honored with Bhutan's highest civilian award, the "Order of the Druk Gyalpo," by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He became the first non-Bhutanese to receive the award.

The visit comes amidst China's efforts to strengthen ties with Bhutan.

Key agreements were inked in areas like fuel supply, affordable medicines, space cooperation, and digital connectivity. Of the pacts signed on Friday, one is an MoU on the general supply of petroleum, oil, lubricants (POL) and related products from India to Bhutan. India will facilitate supply to Bhutan through agreed entry/exit points.

Both sides “also agreed on and initialled the text of the MoU on the (proposed) establishment of rail links between India and Bhutan”, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link and Banarhat-Samtse rail link and their implementation modalities”.

The visit will culminate with Prime Minister Modi's inauguration of the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu, that was built with Indian assistance.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck hailed Modi’s leadership. The King added that the Bhutanese award conferred on Modi was “a symbol of our gratitude to India, for having always been our true friend and ally, for our close unity and friendship”.