India attaches 'highest importance' to its relations with Bhutan: President Mukherjee

Asserting that India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Bhutan, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said the ties between New Delhi and Thimphu are unique and special.

"India attaches the highest importance to its relations with Bhutan, which is a close friend and neighbour. Our relations are unique and special. They have been sustained by a long tradition of close consultations and frequent exchange of high level visits," President Mukherjee told Bhutan newspaper Kuensel in an interview on the eve of his state visit to the landlocked kingdom.

"I have had a long personal association with Bhutan in my four decades and more in public life. I am familiar with the leadership of Bhutan and have interacted with them on many occasions in Bhutan and in India," he added.

Speaking of the high-level visits of the leaders of both nations, President Mukherjee said that he was honoured to host Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier this year.

"Prime Minister Tobgay's first visit abroad was to India and Prime Minister Modi's first visit abroad was to Bhutan. His Majesty, the King was the Chief Guest for our Republic day in January 2013. I was honoured to host him in the Rashtrapati Bhavan as the first foreign guest to stay in our renovated guest wing in January 2014. The King also paid a private visit to India in October 2014 when he travelled to many cities, including places of Buddhist heritage," the President said.

Asserting that the visit to Bhutan by two high-level Indian leaders within a year was sign of the importance that New Delhi places on Thimphu, President Mukherjee also laid out the itinerary of his visit to that nation.

"I was invited to visit Bhutan by His Majesty the King. The Government of India and I both felt that this visit should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity. The visit by two top Indian leaders within a year is an important signal of our sincere desire to promote good neighbourly relations in South Asia and the importance we attach to Bhutan. I am confident my visit will further strengthen the already strong relations between our two countries," President Mukherjee said.

"I will be accompanied by a delegation which includes the Minister of State for Railways, several Members of Parliament, senior officials and representatives of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad as well as the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. During the visit, an MoU will be signed by Bhutan on its participation in the Nalanda University. An MoU will be also concluded between the English and Foreign Language University, Hyderabad, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and National Innovation Foundation for experience sharing and human resource development in Bhutan," he added.

President Mukherjee's visit to Bhutan, the first bilateral visit by a President of India to that nation in 26 years, is expected to further expand the bilateral partnership and strengthen the close bonds that exist between both countries.

The bilateral relations between India and Bhutan date back to 1949 when the two countries signed the treaty of friendship and cooperation. This treaty, which provides for perpetual peace and friendship, free trade and commerce, and equal justice to each other's citizens, was updated and signed by King Wangchuck in February 2007.