Prime Minister Modi has reached Paro, where he will be honored with Bhutan’s highest civilian award
PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan marks his first since being honored with the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan’s highest civilian award, announced in 2021. Earlier plans for the visit had to be postponed on Thursday due to adverse weather conditions.
Following the postponement of his Bhutan visit due to adverse weather on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paro, Bhutan on Friday, March 22, 2024, for a 24-hour State visit. He received a warm welcome, including a Guard of Honour. During his visit, Mr. Modi will be honored with Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo.
This marks PM Modi’s inaugural visit since the award announcement in 2021. The honor will be bestowed by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, as a recognition of Modi’s endeavors in bolstering India-Bhutan relations, particularly through the provision of the initial 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2021.
The Prime Minister’s visit, coming just a week after Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay’s visit to Delhi, is unusual. Typically, Prime Ministers avoid bilateral visits after election dates are set. However, sources say this gesture reflects India’s dedication to Bhutan, as well as the government’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy.
After arriving in Thimphu on Friday, Mr. Modi will attend a ceremony at the Tashichhodzong complex and meet with the Bhutanese King, who will then host a banquet in his honor. He will also talk with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, who visited Delhi last week. They will sign MoUs on energy conservation and food safety standards. In the morning, he will open a ‘Mother and Child Hospital’ in Thimphu, funded by India, before returning to Delhi
In addition to discussing bilateral relations, the progress of Bhutan’s boundary talks with China will be a key focus. This includes addressing disputed areas like Doklam in Bhutan’s West, near India’s trijunction point, and Sakteng in Bhutan’s East, where China has recently raised boundary disputes. These disputes are concerning as they intersect with India’s plans to improve road infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh. While Bhutan-China boundary talks typically concentrate on western and northern regions, China’s new claims in the East have sparked concerns that Beijing may pressure Bhutan to expedite negotiations or risk expanding the disputed areas.
According to reports, India has paused construction of parts of the road between Bletting in Tawang and Doksum in Bhutan’s Trashigang district, following a request from Bhutan. In October 2023, the China-Bhutan boundary negotiations received a boost when Bhutan’s former Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji traveled to Beijing to sign a cooperation agreement for a joint technical team to facilitate the process. India is now observing how the new government under PM Tobgay, sworn in January this year, will handle talks with China. Given the sensitivity of the issue, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refrained from making extensive comments during the recent visits. No press briefing occurred after Mr. Tobgay’s visit, and a joint statement issued in Delhi on March 16 only mentioned discussions on “regional issues of mutual interest” between the two leaders.
Also scheduled for discussion in Thimphu are Bhutan’s proposals for its 13th Five Year Plan (FYP 2024-2029) and its appeal for India’s development aid across various initiatives, including the ambitious “Gelephu Mindfulness City” planned near Bhutan’s southern border with Assam.
“India’s development assistance will focus on enhancing infrastructure, fostering connectivity across various domains including road, rail, air, and digital networks, and supporting sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, skill development, and cultural preservation,” stated the joint declaration in Delhi. It further noted that PM Modi “acknowledged” the Bhutanese King’s vision for the Gelephu Mindfulness City, expressing optimism that it would contribute to Bhutan’s economic prosperity and bolster economic and investment ties between India and Bhutan.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India stands as Bhutan’s primary trading ally. Over the past decade, India’s non-hydropower trade in goods with Bhutan has surged from US$ 484 million to US$ 1.606 billion, as per government records. The MEA also revealed that during the previous 12th Five Year Plan, India’s contribution amounted to INR 5000 Cr. (approximately US $600 mn), accounting for 73% of Bhutan’s total external grant component.
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