Agencies
Thimpu, May 16:
Making his first ever visit to Bhutan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday acclaimed its peaceful transition to "democratic monarchy" and expressed India's readiness to help in taking the Himalayan country's development process on the fast track.
"I have come with a message...that India stands ready to join hands with the people and the government of Bhutan to strengthen our relationship and to do our bid for accelerated development of Bhutan," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters after he arrived on a two-day visit to the country. Singh, who became the first international leader to visit Bhutan after it entered the club of democratic nations in March, said India and Bhutan shared a "unique" relationship with both having "centuries old ties of culture, religion and geography".
The Prime Minister, who is accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur, was warmly received by his Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Thinley at Paro International Airport before driving through the picturesque 54-km stretch to the capital. Thinley presented a 'khadar', a silk scarf to Singh who is the first Prime Minister to visit the country in 15 years. Narasimha Rao came here in 1993.
Schoolchildren lined the roads waving flags of the two countries as the Prime Minister's cavalcade travelled to Thimpu. He also pointed out that it was a "very auspicious year" for Bhutan as it was centenary year of the Wangchuck dynasty in which the coronation of Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck will also be held. The year also witnessed "the ushering in of a democratically elected government".
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