New Delhi Nov 1 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday called on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck who along with Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk and Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk is on a four-day goodwill visit to India.
"#EverlastingFriendship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on His Majesty the King of Bhutan. The Royal family is on a 4-day goodwill visit to India " External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
The Bhutanese royal family s visit assumes significance in the wake of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Doklam region of Bhutan.
Indian and Chinese troops were locked in an over two-month-long standoff at the Doklam plateau in Bhutan.
The crisis which erupted in June over Chinese moves to build a road in an area claimed by Bhutan ended in August with both sides deciding to "disengage" from the face-off point.
While India and Bhutan said that Beijing s move violated the status quo in the India-Bhutan-China international trijunction China claimed that it was its territory.
Sushma Swaraj also greeted Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck who is going to turn two next year.
"#Adorableguest. EAM @SushmaSwaraj greets the Gyalsey (Prince) of Bhutan on his first visit to India as His Majesty and Her Majesty look on " Kumar said in a separate tweet along with a picture.
There are a number of institutional mechanisms between India and Bhutan in areas such as security border management trade transit economic hydro-power development cooperation and water resources.
India has set up three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) in Bhutan totalling 1 416 MW which are operational and exporting surplus power to India. About three-fourths of the power generated is exported and the rest is used for domestic consumption.
India is Bhutan s largest trading partner. In 2016 bilateral trade stood at Rs 8 723 crore with total imports being Rs 5 528.5 crore (82 per cent of Bhutan s total imports) and exports recorded at Rs 3 205.2 crore including electricity (90 per cent of Bhutan s total exports).
--IANS
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