India and Bhutan have agreed to work more closely for progress and development in the region and recognised that their long-standing development partnership is reflective of strong ties of cooperation and friendship based on trust and mutual understanding.
These points were highlighted in a joint statement released here on Wednesday a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Wangchuck held talks here on Tuesday. They reviewed the entire spectrum of ties between the two countries.
The talks between Modi and the King came days after Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said China has an equal say in resolving the border dispute relating to Doklam tri-junction.
Tshering’s comments were seen by many in New Delhi as an attempt by the Himalayan nation to cosy up to Beijing though Bhutan maintained that there is no change in its stance on the border dispute involving the tri-junction. Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a 73-day stand off in the region in 2017 after China tried to build a road in the Doklam plateau and India objected.
Bhutan claims the plateau is part of its territory. “India and Bhutan share an exemplary bilateral relationship characterised by trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels, strong bonds of friendship and close people-to-people contacts,” the joint statement said.