NSA, Foreign Secretary to visit Bhutan on August 8

THIMPHU: National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and newly appointed Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh will arrive here on a three-day official visit from August 8 to hold talks with the new Bhutanese leadership.


Menon and Singh will call on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and meet newly elected Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.

They will also meet Foreign Minister Rinzin Dorje and the Opposition leader Dr Pema Gyamtsho, it added.

Tobgay's People's Democratic Party won a landslide victory in Bhutan's second national elections held on July 13. The PDP defeated Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party by winning 32 seats out of the 47 in the National Assembly.

Foreign Secretary Singh's visit to Bhutan would be her first visit abroad after assuming the office on August 1.

Their tour, the statement said, is part of the traditional exchange of high-level visits between the two countries.

Singh had said last week that India and Bhutan share a unique relationship which has always been characterised by mutual trust and confidence.

"We are working closely with the new government of Bhutan to continue to consolidate our privileged partnership," she said, adding "unfortunate technical lapse" resulted in the disruption of the supply of subsidised gas and kerosene.

Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited his Bhutanese counterpart to visit India.

"I will consult with our Bhutanese friends on how we can work towards an early visit of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay to India," she had said.