"OUR FOCUS AND PRIORITY ARE TO NURTURE THE FRIENDSHIP WITH INDIA WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS" - TSHERING TOBGAY, PRIME MINISTER OF BHUTAN

In a very exclusive interaction, Manish Kumar Jha speaks with Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu, Bhutan over the range of issues which will further reaffirm the historic bilateral relations with India

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INDIA AND BHUTAN ARE THE CLOSEST PARTNERS. IN FACT, India, and Bhutan's partnership span across economic, security as well as cultural ties. The historic partnership is unfolding in a new era in different dimensions. Although small in size, Bhutan holds a unique position providing an alternative model of development and despite the economic pressure and dimensions within, Bhutan is sticking towards its sustainability programme.

Manish Jha (Jha): India-Bhutan relations are the closest between the two neighbours despite deferring in size vastly. What is behind such relations?

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay (PM Tobgay): Yes, we are a close neighbour and family but our friendship is special. Because not just to the test of time but over the decades it has been going from strength to strength. What drives our friendship is our leadership. In this case, it is our successive enlightened monarchs who have nurtured our friendship with India and ensured that our friendship grows from strength to strength.

In India, it is your successive Presidents and Prime Ministers and most recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under his tenure, the friendship between our two countries has grown to unprecedented levels. And this is why I say our friendship is special. It is unique. It is an example of good neighbourliness and good friendship for the rest of the world and that friendship is developed, nurtured, and maintained.

Jha: Prime Minister, the leadership in Bhutan in the democratic setup charted its economic development path. It is based on the alternative model of the Gross Happiness

Index which is the measurement of Bhutan’s economic development. While accepted, it is also debated. Could you talk about the economic progress? How is it unfolding?