Bhutan’s king to visit India

New Delhi, Dec 4: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, will visit India from December 5-6, 2024, accompanied by the Queen, Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, and senior Bhutanese officials.

During the two-day official visit, King Jigme Khesar will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss bilateral relations. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and other senior Indian officials are also scheduled to call on the Bhutanese King.

India and Bhutan relations are marked by mutual trust, understanding, and extensive cooperation. Both nations share a history of close cultural and economic ties, with India being Bhutan’s largest trading partner and a key development partner.

Key issues on the agenda are expected to include energy cooperation—especially regarding Bhutan’s hydropower projects—border security, trade, and cultural exchanges. This visit again provides an opportunity for the two sides to review ongoing collaborations and explore new areas of partnership across diverse sectors.

India and Bhutan continue to have a long-standing friendship that was formalised through the Treaty of Friendship in 1949 which was updated in 2007. There have been regular high-level engagements and meetings between the high-profile ministers, and bureaucrats between the two countries. This visit follows a series of diplomatic exchanges in recent years aimed at strengthening ties amidst regional and global challenges.