Bharat to Bhutan ties got a major fillip as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared his intent to expand "B2B" relations on his maiden visit abroad to the neighbouring Himalayan country with which India shares long-standing close and friendly ties.
Modi, who chose Bhutan as his first port of call to stress the importance accorded to the neighbourhood in the new government's foreign policy, described relations between the two countries as "B2B" or "Bharat to Bhutan" ties.
Earlier, after he flew in to Thimphu on June 15, Modi was given a rousing welcome with hundreds of children lined along the route to cheer him, waving flags of both the countries. He was received at the Paro airport by Prime Minister Tobgay who greeted him in the traditional Bhutanese style by draping a khada around his neck.
The Indian prime minister was driven in a huge convoy amid tight security to the capital city. Several welcome arches with cutouts of Modi and Tobgay added to the festival-like atmosphere.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh have accompanied Modi.
Modi's visit comes ahead of bilateral talks between Bhutan and China that are slated for later this year. China, which shares a 500 km border with Bhutan, is keen to set up an embassy in Thimphu.
Modi said India is "committed to continuing our unstinted support to Bhutan in its development efforts. I will review with the Bhutanese leadership our development cooperation programme to make it even more effective and responsive to the changing aspirations of the people of Bhutan".
Wrapping up his two-day official visit to Bhutan, his first abroad after he assumed office last month, Modi stressed the need for forging closer bilateral ties in tourism, hydropower and proposed an annual hill sports festival involving India's northeastern states alongside Bhutan and Nepal.
"This visit has been extremely successful and entirely satisfying. It has reinforced and further strengthened Indo-Bhutan ties," said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
In a joint statement issued at the end of the visit, Bhutan agreed with India "not to allow each other's territory to be used for interests inimical to the other".
Later, he unveiled the foundation stone of the 600 MW Kholongchu hydropower project, a joint venture model between Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam and Druk Green Power Corporation. Construction on the project is expected to start later this year.
Modi then watched a brief cultural programme before Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting leader and his delegation, before they departed from Thimphu.