Ahmedabad, 15 June, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began his two-day official visit to Bhutan today.

He received a ceremonial guard of honour in Thimphu.

Upon his arrival at the Palace of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the Bhutanese people carried out the traditional ‘Chipdrel procession’. The procession is hosted specially by the Bhutan King for heads of the states who visit his country.

It is believed that this traditional custom brings good fortune for the country and goodwill with its neighbours.

Later, Modi met the fourth Bhutan King. In the meeting that lasted for about an hour, Prime Minister Modi invited the Bhutanese King and his wife Jetsun Pema to visit India.

Modi inaugurated the new building of the Supreme Court of Bhutan, which has been built with assistance of India.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will host a banquet for Prime Minister Modi at the royal banquet hall this evening.

Prime Minister Modi will address a joint sitting of the 3rd session of the second parliament of Bhutan on the morning of June 16.

He will then unveil the foundation stone of the 600 megawatt Kholongchu Hdropower Project. Construction works for the joint venture project is expected to start between September and October this year.

The King of Bhutan will host a lunch in honour of the prime minister and his delegation before they depart from Thimphu on June 16.

Earlier today, the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying Modi landed at Paro Airport, where Modi was received by Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, members of his cabinet and senior Bhutanese and Indian Embassy officials.

Sidelights:

A cutout outside Taj Tashi hotel in Thimpu, where Modi is staying during his two-day Bhutan visit on Sunday and Monday, read, “Welcome to our close friend, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi.”

Hundreds of schoolchildren cheered and waved the national flags of India and Bhutan as Modi arrived.

Modi is accompanied by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, national security advisor Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Sujatha Singh.

Bhutan PM Tobgay earlier told The Hindu newspaper the visit was “proof to the world that two countries despite the differences in size can enjoy a relationship that is problem-free and mutually beneficial”. Relations with India remained “the cornerstone of Bhutan’s foreign policy”, he added.

Bhutan has the size of Switzerland and population of 750,000.It is the world’s first country to monitor gross national happiness an alternative to gross domestic product, to balance a tentative embrace of modernity with an effort to preserve traditions.

Just before Prime Minister Modi’s arrival at the palace, there was heavy rainfall which raised speculation whether the guard of honour conducted in an open court could be affected. However, the rain stopped just in time for the ceremony to take place in grand style.

India’s assistance package to Bhutan includes Rs 4,500 crore for the country’s 11th Five Year Plan from 2013-18.