July 15: The Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley left for a four day state visit to the India yesterday. The Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley was seen off by the cabinet ministers, senior government officials, Paro Dzongkhag officials, rabdey and armed force representatives and grassroots leaders.

This is Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley’s first visit abroad, as the first democratically elected Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister’s is accompanied by the Foreign Minister Lyonpo Uyen Tshering, the Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk and the Finance Minister Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu.

While in India, Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley will meet India’s President, the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister. The Bhutanese delegation will also meet other senior Indian officials and political leaders.

A news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the two sides will exchange views on issues of mutual interest. It says the visit is an important milestone in Bhutan-India relations and will further cement the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries.

Bhutan and India share strong historical and cultural relations and enjoy close ties of friendship and cooperation.

It says an important factor in nurturing relations is a well established tradition of exchanging regular high-level visits.

Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley was received by the Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, other senior Indian government officials and the Bhutanese ambassador to India Lyonpo Dago Tshering and officials from the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi.

Today, the Prime Minister will meet the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambika Soni, the Minister of Power SK Shinde, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and the National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan.