Bhutan's King Jigme Wangchuck's Official Visit to India: Strengthening Ties & Deepening Friendship

President Droupadi Murmu has invited him to visit India. The King of Bhutan's visit is in keeping with the long-standing tradition of regular high-level interactions between the two countries, and he will see President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tour. Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and key officials will meet with Bhutan's King.

India and Bhutan have special friendship and collaboration connections that are marked by mutual understanding and trust. The visit would allow both parties to examine the entire scope of bilateral collaboration and to advance the tight bilateral partnership, including economic and development cooperation, according to the announcement.

Earlier in February 2023, a Bhutanese Legislative Delegation led by Wangchuk Namgyel, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, paid a visit to President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. While welcoming the team, the President stated that India and Bhutan have a varied and unique friendship.

The Government of India is committed to extending its great bilateral collaboration with Bhutan in conformity with the people of Bhutan's ambitions and goals.

To assist the Royal Government of Bhutan in realizing its vision of prosperity for all, India is expanding bilateral collaboration with Bhutan into new areas such as space cooperation, smart agriculture, youth and sports, start-ups, renewable energy, and digital development. Bhutan will graduate from the LDC group of countries this year, with the goal of becoming a High Income Economy by 2034, according to the President. India and Bhutan have exceptional bilateral ties founded on mutual trust, goodwill, and understanding.

India and Bhutan established formal diplomatic ties in 1968. The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed by the two countries in 1949, which was extended in February 2007, serves as the foundation of India-Bhutan relations. Regular high-level interactions between the two countries have helped to strengthen bilateral ties. In 2007, India renegotiated the 1949 pact with Bhutan and signed a new friendship treaty. The new treaty replaced the section mandating Bhutan to follow India's foreign policy advice with more sovereignty.