India proposes new ideas to strengthen ties with Bhutan

PM Modi proposed to hold a joint sports festival between Bhutan and northeastern states of India

India today proposed new ideas for further enhancing cooperation with Bhutan while asserting that commitments made by the previous government will be fulfilled.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bhutan on his maiden foreign visit, told reporters here that the Indian side was "extremely satisfied" with the "extremely successful" visit.

Swaraj said Prime Minister Modi gave some new suggestions to Bhutan.

Prime Minister Modi proposed to hold a joint sports festival between Bhutan and northeastern states of India, establish e-libraries in 20 districts in Bhutan and set up a university on Himalayan studies, she said.

"We reiterated that the commitments made by the previous government will be fulfilled. These commitments are made by a country to a country and not by government to government," Swaraj said.

"He reiterated commitments made by the previous government regarding the Five Year Plan by saying that such commitments are not made by government to government but by country to country. We will fulfil commitments in toto," Swaraj told reporters allaying fears that India would discontinue with subsidies on LPG.

She said Bhutan was selected for the Prime Minister's first foreign visit as it is one of India's "important neighbours".

The visit, Swaraj said, has reinforced relations between the two countries. Though it was a short visit, Modi was able to interact with the members of the Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive.

Referring to the power projects being implemented in Bhutan, Swaraj said Modi was of the view that these projects should be completed in a speedy manner.