The Well-being, Stability and Progress of Bhutan Are Central to Our Vision for the Future, Says President

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee congratulated the King of Bhutan on the completion of five years of Democratic Constitutional Monarchy in Bhutan and said the well-being, stability and progress of Bhutan are central to our vision for the future. He was speaking at the banquet hosted in the honour of the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 25, 2013.

The President said India deeply values and attaches the highest importance to our traditional ties of close friendship with Bhutan, based on utmost sensitivity and respect for each other's vital interests and shared perspectives on strategic issues. Both our Governments are agreed that our friendship has been constant because of the pillars of trust and understanding on which it is founded. We should ensure that these pillars remain strong and unshakable. The Government and the people of India consider it a privilege to contribute, sharing our modest resources, to the realization of the Bhutanese way of socio-economic development. We should endeavour to strengthen our mechanisms for mutual consultation and co-operation especially in areas of shared interest and common concern. Government of India remains committed to further expanding and deepening our multi-faceted, mutually beneficial partnership in accordance with the hopes and aspirations of the people of our two countries. As articulated by our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who laid the foundation of our relationship, India's wish is that Bhutan should remain an independent country choosing its own way of life and taking the path of progress according to its will.