India for further advancing ties with Bhutan
Foreign Ministers of India and Bhutan cut cakes, jointly on Wednesday, at a customary function hosted at the Bhutanese embassy in Delhi marking the 50 years of India-Bhutan formal diplomatic ties. The event also celebrated the birthday of King Jigme Khesar.
Bhutan and India had political relations since the conclusion of Sinchula Treaty in 1865 though formal diplomatic missions were established only 50 years ago.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said that it is an opportunity to reflect about further advancing ties between the two countries.
“The year 2018 is a milestone moment for India- Bhutan partnership as we celebrate the accomplishments of the last five decades of our time-tested and special ties,” she said.
Bhutanese foreign minister also stressed on strengthening ties between the countries at people’s level.
As part of the series of programs to mark the anniversary, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay recently inaugurated the opening of a new Consulate in Guwahati.
India is the biggest trading partner for Bhutan and wields highest political influence in Bhutan. It controls Bhutan’s relations with other countries.
India has set up three hydroelectric projects (HEPs) in Bhutan totalling 1,416 MW, which are operational and exporting surplus power to India. About three-fourths of the power generated is exported and the rest is used for domestic consumption.
In 2016, bilateral trade stood at IRs 87.23 billion with total imports being Rs 55.285B (82 per cent of Bhutan’s total imports) and exports recorded at IRs 32.052B including electricity (90 per cent of Bhutan’s total exports).
It is nice to see Bhutan-India relations are very good. But Bhutan must be free to establish diplomatic relations with China and sooner the better. No country should interfere to develop diplomatic, economic and developmental relations between Bhutan and China. No country afford to not to have relations with China anymore as China is the emerging Super-power whether India and the US like it or not.
It is just surprising how India practices two very different policies in Bhutan and Nepal.
It’s nice to have good relations with India. But Bhutan should not be confined by that relationship, and it will lead to self-distruction for Bhutan to refuse deplomatic relations with big countries, such as China.Nepal is right to have the deplomatic sovereignty.