Bhutan: June 15-16, 2014:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to visit Bhutan first after he took over as PM, to cement India's “unique and special relationship” with the neighbouring country. He was received by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at the Paro airport and was given a ceremonial guard of honour.
He was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.
He said that his two-day visit to the Himalayan kingdom Sunday is "bound by common interests and shared prosperity, India and Bhutan enjoy a unique and special relationship, which has been forged by ties of geography, history and culture.
"Therefore, Bhutan as the destination for my first visit abroad as the prime minister is a natural choice. Relations with Bhutan will be a key foreign policy priority of my government."
The prime minister said he would review with the Bhutanese leadership on making the "development cooperation programme" between the two countries "even more effective".
He addresses Parliament of Bhutan in Hindi and laid foundation for a new hydel-power project.
