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Bhutanese King arrives on five-day state visit
New Delhi, Sept 14: Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk arrived here today on a five-day state visit during which India and Bhutan will sign a memorandum of understanding for the preparation of a detailed project report on Punatsangchhu hydroelectric project.
New Delhi, Sept 14: Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk arrived here today on a five-day state visit during which India and Bhutan will sign a memorandum of understanding for the preparation of a detailed project report on Punatsangchhu hydroelectric project.
The King was received at the Delhi airport by Minister of State for Finance Sripad Naik and senior officials.
The project, with an estimated generation capacity of 870 MW, has been identified for implementation under the 10th five year plan of India. The King will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and have meetings with Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during which issues of "mutual interest" will be discussed.
India's assistance to the 9th five year plan of Bhutan will also come up during the parleys.
He will also have meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Power Minister Anant Geete. The King's visit would further reinforce the friendly ties between the two countries, officials said here.
Wangchuk is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.
"The visit will renew bilateral contacts and strengthen the warm and cordial relations between the two countries," a Bhutanese Embassy statement here said.
Observing that Bhutan and India share strong historical and cultural relations, it said both countries have traditionally enjoyed close ties of friendship and cooperation.
The two sides would also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.
India's concerns on the presence of United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) and Bodo Militants in southern Bhutan may be conveyed during the parleys between the two sides.
The Bhutanese government has reiterated that they would not allow their territory to be misused against the interests of India.
Bhutanese leadership has also assured India of their full cooperation to end terrorism in this country perpetrated from militant camps in Bhutan.
Officials said the two countries continued to be in close touch on this issue. Bureau Report
The project, with an estimated generation capacity of 870 MW, has been identified for implementation under the 10th five year plan of India. The King will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and have meetings with Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during which issues of "mutual interest" will be discussed.
India's assistance to the 9th five year plan of Bhutan will also come up during the parleys.
He will also have meetings with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and Power Minister Anant Geete. The King's visit would further reinforce the friendly ties between the two countries, officials said here.
Wangchuk is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.
"The visit will renew bilateral contacts and strengthen the warm and cordial relations between the two countries," a Bhutanese Embassy statement here said.
Observing that Bhutan and India share strong historical and cultural relations, it said both countries have traditionally enjoyed close ties of friendship and cooperation.
The two sides would also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.
India's concerns on the presence of United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) and Bodo Militants in southern Bhutan may be conveyed during the parleys between the two sides.
The Bhutanese government has reiterated that they would not allow their territory to be misused against the interests of India.
Bhutanese leadership has also assured India of their full cooperation to end terrorism in this country perpetrated from militant camps in Bhutan.
Officials said the two countries continued to be in close touch on this issue. Bureau Report