Prime Minister Modi meets King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in New Delhi

New Delhi, Sept 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Sept 14) met the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Wangchuck also met Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and is further scheduled to meet National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval today (Sept 14).

 

 

 

 

Bhutan on Tuesday ratified the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement. "Ambassador of Bhutan to India Maj Gen Vetsop Namgyel handed over the instrument of ratification to Secretary ER Dammu Ravi, in the presence of DG International Solar Alliance," tweeted the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

 

 

 

 

 

The basic framework of India-Bhutan bilateral relations was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries. It called for peace between the two nations and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The Treaty was revised in 2007. However, Bhutan agreed to let India guide its foreign policy and both nations would consult each other closely on foreign and defence affairs.

 

Bhutan shares its border with four Indian states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim with a length of 699 km and serves as a buffer between India and China. Bhutan is important to India as a buffer state as it acts as a defence against China by protecting the chicken neck corridor. The Siliguri Corridor, or Chicken's Neck, is a narrow stretch of land of about 22 kilometres. It is located in the Indian state of West Bengal, which connects India's north-eastern states to the rest of India, with the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh lying on either side of the corridor.