King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday (December 5, 2024).
| Photo Credit: ANI
India and Bhutan on Thursday (December 5, 2024) discussed bilateral projects in the fields of electricity and urban planning during the visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema. His Majesty Wangchuk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and both sides reiterated continued collaboration on multiple fronts, including the Gelephu Mindfulness City project and hydropower.
A joint statement issued after the meeting declared PM Modi “reassured His Majesty of India’s continued support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City Project, which will bring prosperity and well-being in Bhutan and also the border areas, and further strengthen economy and investment linkages between the two countries”.
The visit of the Bhutan royals comes days after the visit of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay who inaugurated Global Cooperatives Alliance in New Delhi on November 25. India’s commitment for the Gelephu project while hosting the Bhutanese King is significant as it comes in the backdrop of diplomatic setbacks that South Block has faced in the neighbourhood, especially in Dhaka where India’s ties with the new interim government of Bangladesh has failed to stabilise since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August.
In Nepal too, Prime Minister Oli has prioritised Kathmandu’s ties with Beijing and sealed a new Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) during his first foreign trip since taking power in July this year.
The Hindu had earlier reported that the Adani Group was in talks with Thimphu for investing in the project in Gelephu. In July, His Majesty Wangchuk and Prime Minister Tobgay traveled to Gujarat, where they sought cooperation with the Adani Group on airport, infrastructure, and renewable energy projects.
Also Read: On India-Bhutan ties
While India’s neighbours, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have announced reviews of Adani projects in the past few weeks, and the U.S. Department of Justice indictment of the Adani Group has cast a shadow over other projects, the Bhutanese government has thus far not commented on the issue. In October, Gelephu’s newly appointed Governor and former Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering had confirmed after a visit to Thimphu by Adani Group chief Gautam Adani to Thimphu, that the Adani Group was in talks over a number of solar and hydropower projects for the new smart city.
The two sides on Thursday (December 5, 2024) also discussed the hydel power projects, including the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydro power project and expressed satisfaction as it was “nearing completion”.
“The leaders agreed on the need for early conclusion of the Punatsangchhu-I hydro power project. The two sides reiterated the importance of cooperation in the hydropower sector, and their commitment to advancing it, including through finalising modalities urgently for new projects, including reservoir hydro projects,” the Joint Statement said.
Both sides also discussed cross border connectivity projects including a rail line as well as digital networks.
Published – December 05, 2024 10:55 pm IST