Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Monday travelled to Bhutan on a three-day trip, in the first high-level visit from New Delhi after formation of a new government under People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tshering Tobgay.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the foreign secretary is on an official visit to Bhutan from January 29 to 31. “Foreign Secretary Kwatra will receive an audience with His Majesty, the King. He will also call on the prime minister, foreign minister and meet with foreign secretary of Bhutan and other senior officials of the Royal Government,” MEA said in a brief statement. “The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between Bhutan and India,” it added.
Tobgay assumed charge as the prime minister of Bhutan on Sunday following the PDP’s victory in the elections earlier this month. Kwatra’s visit comes against the backdrop of China and Bhutan looking at an expeditious resolution of their festering boundary row that could have implications for India’s security interests. Close to three months back, Bhutan’s then Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.
A Chinese readout on the talks said Bhutan firmly abides by the one-China principle and stands ready to work with China for an early settlement of the boundary issue and advance the political process of establishing diplomatic relations.
New Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for New Delhi’s security interests, especially in the Doklam tri-junction.