What's new

Indo-Bhutan relations model for bilateral ties: Bhutanese King

RPK

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Jul 6, 2009
Messages
6,862
Reaction score
-6
Country
India
Location
United States
Indo-Bhutan relations model for bilateral ties: Bhutanese King

New Delhi: India and Bhutan's relations are a model for an ideal bilateral partnership, visiting King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said here Wednesday.

"Despite vast differences in size and population, our relationship stands as a model of partnership and cooperation," the 29-year-old king said in his address at the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial lecture held at the auditorium of the Teen Murti Bhavan.


He said that while the concept of "gross national happiness" was key to the success of Bhutan, equally important was its friendship with India over the years.

The king said that the partnership was due to the friendship between two important personalities - India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

"I believe that man's most important relationships are forged in his early years. Similarly, it was for nations," he said.

He said that through the great widening of the ties over the years, both countries have "heeded each other's best interests".

The Bhutanese king added that he had been "working very hard to live up to the expectations of my father and my people".

"I try to give my 200 percent to my work," he said to applause from the audience.

On the concept of "Gross National Happiness" introduced by his father as a measure of growth, he said that it meant "development with values".

He was crowned the king of Bhutan in 2006, but his formal coronation was in November 2008. From an absolute monarchy, the small Himalayan kingdom turned into a constitutional monarchy in 2008.

The Bhutanese king is on his first foreign visit since his coronation. He arrived in India Monday and signed 12 deals after discussions with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday.
 
.
The Hindu : Front Page : We owe it to India, says Bhutan King

NEW DELHI: Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Wednesday attributed the friendship with India to the success of Bhutan as a nation.

“Bhutan would not be where it is today without India’s friendship,” he said while delivering the Madhav Rao Scindia Memorial Lecture here.

“Some say Bhutan was wise to seek strong bilateral relations with India. Yes, after all, whether we speak about our socio-economic progress or our recent transition to democracy, India has been our steadfast partner and friend. But I feel that the true wisdom lies in the fact that we sought and continue to seek true friendship with India,” he said.

Nehru’s journey


The King saw the root of the ties between the two countries in Jawaharlal Nehru’s journey to Bhutan in 1958, which subsequently led to the widening of bilateral cooperation.

“One country [India] — while still radiating joy and warmth from the attainment of Independence — ushered the other [Bhutan] into the realm of modernisation,” the King said.

Since then, the ties have grown strong, vibrant, and dynamic. From religious and cultural links to political and economic cooperation, the ties encompassed a diversity of areas and issues on which both countries worked closely together in each other’s best interests.

Changing world


The strength of India-Bhutan ties, the King felt, was more striking when viewed in the context of the changes that took place in the world in the last few decades.

“With modernisation, people have a greater awareness of the world beyond our region. And, though awakened to new realities and experiences, our friendship has evolved as only true friendship can over time.

Despite the vast difference in size and population, our friendship has been constant because of the pillars of trust and understanding on which we have founded it. Our relationship stands as a model of partnership and cooperation.”

Justifying the title of his talk — “Changing World and Timeless Values” — the King said he wanted to think more deeply into finding an enduring place for simple human values in a world that was becoming unrecognisable from one generation to the next. “And how sadly, while the need for values is stronger and more urgent than ever, the climate in which they would flourish grows more and more unfriendly.”

Focus on basic values


Advocating adherence to basic human values as only these would guide the world through the problems of environmental degradation, terrorism and world poverty, the King said that though the approach may sound idealistic, he felt this was the natural and practical way of approaching things that seemed intractable and inflexible.

“The image of a shared planet must always be present in our minds — and especially in the minds of those who are in positions of leadership,” the King said.
 
.

Military Forum Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom