India and Bhutan have reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to further strengthen it across diverse sectors.  Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and his Bhutanese counterpart  Aum Pema Choden co-chaired the India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks in New Delhi yesterday. The Bhutanese side shared details regarding Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Foreign Secretary Kwatra conveyed India’s commitment to partner with Bhutan based on the priorities of the government and people of Bhutan and advancing the bilateral partnership including newer areas. Foreign Secretaries of India and Bhutan also noted with appreciation the progress on bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, development partnership, cross-border connectivity, trade and economic ties, digital development, and furthering people-to-people ties. It was agreed that both sides will continue to work to further strengthen such cooperation in keeping with the Joint Statement issued during the visit of the King of Bhutan to India in April this year. Later, the Foreign Secretary of Bhutan also called on the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that India and Bhutan share an exemplary bilateral relationship characterised by utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels, strong bonds of friendship, and close people-to-people ties. The visit of the Foreign Secretary of Bhutan reinforced the long-standing tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries to discuss all issues of mutual interest.