Bhutan’s 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck landed in Delhi on Sunday ahead of talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, a fortnight after Bhutan and China signed an agreement on the boundary delimitation process in Beijing. While the boundary talks will receive the most interest in New Delhi, given India’s concerns over Doklam, the King’s visit is understood to be prompted by an ambitious project Bhutan plans on the border with Assam, in Gelephu. In Delhi, the Bhutanese King was received at the airport by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval called on him at hotel.

“The visit will further strengthen close bonds of friendship and cooperation with a valued partner,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, without adding any details of issues expected to be raised during the talks. 

The Bhutanese King flew to Delhi from Guwahati, which was the first ever official visit by a Bhutanese monarch to Assam