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• Warm relations Tshering’s three-day
state-visit to India was a success in many ways

Trade ties: Bhutan PM’s

visit helps boost business

An aid of 4,500 crore to Bhutan’s 12th five-year plan will further strengthen the relations
between New Delhi and Thimpu as the two are celebrating the golden jubilee of bilateral
ties, writes nava thakuria

s a mutual gesture, Bhu- cussion with his counterpart Naren- cratic constitutional monarchy. The
tan’s newly elected Prime dra Modi on various bilateral issues. It Druk democracy witnessed its first-
Minister Dr Lotay Tshering was reciprocal in nature as Modi too ever elections in March 2008, and prior
visited India on December paid his first official visit to Bhutan to that prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel
A 27-29, 2018, which was his (also known as Druk Yul in Bhutanese Wangchuck was crowned as the cer-
first foreign trip after taking the rein of or Land of the Thunder Dragon) after emonial Head of the State.
Royal Government in Thimphu, and the taking oath as the head of Indian Union The tiny nation had lately witnessed
premier returned back with New Del- government in 2014. its third national elections, held in
hi’s financial assistance of 4500 crore Sandwiched between the two giant October 2018, where Dr Tshering’s
to the Himalayan nation’s 12th five-year nations India and Tibet (now under party named Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa
plan (2018 to 2023). China), the Buddhist nation had been (DNT) emerged victorious winning over
Besides Indian President Ram Nath ruled by monarchs, until the Dragon 30 seats in the 47-member lower house
Kovind and vice-President M Venkaiah King Jigme Singye Wangchuk himself of Bhutanese Parliament. A practicing
Naidu, Dr Tshering had a fruitful dis- proposed transforming it to a demo- physician, he successfully nurtured

Tehelka / 31 january 2019 56 www.Tehelka.com