New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received Bhutan's highest civilian award, the 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo', the first foreign Head of the Government to receive the honour. The award has been conferred on Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth of India-Bhutan relations and for his distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people.
After receiving the award, addressing a gathering, PM Modi said the affinity between the people of India and Bhutan makes their bilateral relationship unique while emphasising that "Bharat" resides in people's hearts in this Himalayan nation. Modi said the successful endeavour of one country is cheered by the other. "The affinity between people of India and Bhutan makes our relationship unique," he said. In his address, he told the Bhutanese people that "India resides in your hearts".
Meanwhile, a former diplomat, who was also the former Information Adviser and Spokesman in the Prime Minister’s Office during the tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (1985-90) on the condition of anonymity told ETV Bharat that Bhutan and India have special relations. “Bhutan has kept the Chinese at the distance and met all India's needs and had close security relations with New Delhi", the former envoy said.
“We have had our problems now and then but otherwise India doesn't interfere in their system of governance. The only thing India needs to be careful and even Bhutan is careful is regarding its relations with China”, he added. He noted that the Bhutanese royalty has been very comfortable with the relations with India.
The former diplomat pointed out that Bhutan has always been careful on the sensitive issues related to India and on the other hand, India has lived up to Bhutan's expectations of respecting their identity and sovereignty. “Bhutan is the only country with which we officially have a normal relationship. India-Bhutan always have had cordial relations and New Delhi has been the largest provider of cooperation. We are the one who keeps their economy strong”, the former diplomat added.
PM Modi is currently on a state visit to the Himalayan nation. PM Modi arrived in Paro this morning on a State visit to Bhutan from March 22 to 23. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and the government’s emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy. He was warmly received by Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan at Paro airport, and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
Later, he held bilateral talks with Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu on Friday over a working lunch hosted in his honour. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Tobgay for the exceptional public welcome accorded to him with people greeting him all along the journey from Paro to Thimphu.
The two leaders held discussions on various aspects of the multi-faceted bilateral relations and forged an understanding to further enhance cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, youth exchange, environment forestry and tourism. India and Bhutan enjoy long-standing and exceptional ties characterised by utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels.
After receiving the award, PM Modi announced financial support of Rs 10000 crore to Bhutan over the next five years. He said, "We will work on new possibilities in connectivity, infrastructure, trade, and the energy sector between India and Bhutan".
“As always, there will be our full cooperation and support for the 13th five-year plan of the government of Bhutan. I would like to announce to my brothers and sisters of Bhutan that the government of India will provide support of ₹10,000 crore in this direction in the next five years,” PM Modi added.
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