Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Bhutan, interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora and the local people of Bhutan who gathered to welcome him outside the Hotel in Bhutan's national capital, Thimphu.
PM Modi was welcomed with a cultural performance at the Hotel and people holding Indian flags to see him.
The members of the Indian community on meeting PM Modi expressed their happiness and said that they felt honoured to meet PM Modi.
"We saw PM Modi. We were very excited to see him. He came to meet us, he greeted us and saw cultural dance. It was really a good feeling and we were really honoured to see him so closely. Thanks to the Indian embassy, and Indian community here for giving me this opportunity," Varun Amar, who has been working in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) said.
"This was a big event. There was a lot of anticipation that PM Modi would come to Bhutan. As an Indian community, I feel very privileged and honoured to see him as such close quarters. Felt very good," said Dr Pallavi Majumdar, working in Bhutan
In an unprecedented welcome for PM Modi in Bhutan, people lined up the streets across the entire stretch of 45 kms from Paro to the national capital, Thimphu.
Earlier, PM Modi was welcomed at the airport by his Bhutanese counterpart PM Tshering Tongay with a warm hug and a grand guard of honour from Bhutanese armed forces.
He has also been conferred with an 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award by Bhutan, which he dedicated to 140 crore Indians in a post he posted on X.
India and Bhutan share a unique and exemplary bilateral relationship founded on mutual trust, goodwill, and understanding.
Formal diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1968, with the cornerstone being the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 and subsequently renewed in February 2007.
Over the years, high-level exchanges have played a pivotal role in nurturing the strong bond between India and Bhutan.
King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, has made several visits to India, underscoring the close ties between the two nations. His last visit to India was in November 2023.
Similarly, PM Modi's visit to Bhutan in August 2019 marked a significant milestone, with the launch of major bilateral projects aimed at bolstering economic cooperation and connectivity.
The recent official visit of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan to India in March 2024 further reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to enhancing bilateral relations across various domains, including development cooperation and vibrant economic ties.
(ANI)