PM Tobgay talks to Chinese minister before visiting Delhi

Before PM Tshering Tobgay embarks on India visit, Chinese delegation has arrived Thimphu for another round of border talks to try and settle the longstanding border disputes in northern side.

The two sides are scheduled to sit for talk today – August 22. The eight-member Chinese delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenrin has already arrived.

Foreign Minister Rinzin Dorje is leading the Bhutanese side. This is follow up of the 20th Round of Boundary Talks held in Thimphu in August last year.

Despite expression of interests to resolve the border issue as early as possible, the two countries have not been able to find an amicable solution. The Chinese side is putting condition for diplomatic relations in return for finalising the border disputes. This is intolerable for India, but accepted for Bhutan.

Despite the absence of diplomatic ties, the two countries have maintained political contacts, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges over the past several years.

The Boundary negotiations between the Bhutanese government and the government of the People’s Republic of China are guided by the four principles agreed to in the 1988 and the 1998 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility in the Bhutan-China Border Areas.

Bhutan shares a contiguous border of 470 kilometres with China and its territorial disputes with the country have been a source of potential conflict with India.

In the mean time, the visit Chinese delegation chief Zhenrin has called on PM Tobgay on Wednesday at his office.