Bhutan PM to arrive in India tomorrow

In a sign of deepening bilateral ties, Bhutan Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley will arrive here tomorrow on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with the top leadership on hydro-electric projects among other issues. "The Prime Minister is being accompanied by Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister in-charge of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Economic Affairs and Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji and other officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said. Thinley will call on the President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari. He will also meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Thinley's visit comes just days after Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck had visited the country. The King was the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade. Last month, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had visited Bhutan. Among various bilateral and regional issues that are likely to be discussed, hydro-electric projects would be one of the main areas of focus. During Khurshid's visit, India had assured Bhutan that it will continue to finance the hydro-electric projects in that "very special" country despite 2012-13 "not" being the best year as far as its own budget was concerned.