New Delhi
India and Bhutan will seek to reaffirm their friendship and review bilateral issues, foreign policy and regional focus when Prime Minister Lotay Tshering arrives on his maiden state visit to Delhi on Thursday, less than two months since he assumed office.

The three-day state visit will be the first high-level exchange between the two sides since Tshering and his Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party won surprise victory in the recently concluded third general elections in the Himalayan nation.

Speaking at a conference on ‘India-Bhutan relations-The road ahead’ earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale underlined, “At the heart of India-Bhutan friendship is the belief that we have each other’s interest at heart. We have vital stakes in each other’s progress and well-being and in peace and prosperity in the region.”

“It is a goodwill visit. As a new PM he is coming to express appreciation for India. We are not working on any specific agreements per se. We receive assistance from India and are confident of assistance for our 12th plan,” said a Bhutanese official.

The official talks and joint statement to be issued later is expected to focus among others on issues of economic assistance, hydropower cooperation, visas, possible revival of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement rejected by Thimphu, border security against backdrop of the 2017 Doklam confrontation with Chinese PLA.

“As Bhutan enters its 12th Five Year Plan, India stands firmly committed to partner Bhutan in its quest for bringing greater prosperity and happiness to its people,” Gokhale said at the conference.

The flagship 720 MWs Mangdechhu hydro-power project is expected to be commissioned during the visit. Bhutan has concerns about India’s revised policy on cross-border trade of electricity that is expected to impact Thimphu’s ability to sell power to India. Tshering is likely to raise the matter to seek changes in the policy.