States » EastPosted at: Sep 17 2026 10:14PM


EAM Jaishankar arrives in Paro after Bumthang visit, set for royal audience

Thimpu, Sep 17 (UNI) India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Bhutan’s Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister D.N. Dhungyel arrived at Paro on Thursday after concluding their visit to Bumthang, as part of Dr Jaishankar’s three-day official visit to Bhutan from September 16 to 18.
Dr Jaishankar is scheduled to receive a Royal Audience with His Majesty the King and call on the Prime Minister later on Thursday.
During his visit, Dr Jaishankar and Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel jointly marked three major bilateral infrastructure projects on Wednesday, underlining the longstanding development partnership between India and Bhutan.
The two ministers participated in the laying of the foundation stone for the 500-kW Lunana Hydropower Project in Gasa, the inauguration of the 65-bed Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Mongar, and the inauguration of the 80-metre-long Jaganathan Bridge in Samdrup Jongkhar, according to the Indian Embassy in Thimphu.
The Lunana Hydropower Project is aimed at providing electricity to Bhutan’s remaining un-electrified settlements. The Embassy described it as a milestone in the longstanding energy cooperation between India and Bhutan, dating back to Bhutan’s first hydroelectric plant at Jungshina in Thimphu in 1967.
The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Mongar is a state-of-the-art 65-bed specialist facility aimed at strengthening access to quality and specialised maternal and child healthcare services in eastern Bhutan.
The Jaganathan Bridge, constructed by Project Dantak under the Bhutan-India Friendship framework, is expected to improve connectivity between Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan.
The three projects cover the areas of energy, healthcare and infrastructure development, reflecting the broad-based nature of the development partnership between India and Bhutan.
Dr Jaishankar’s visit is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and is aimed at further strengthening the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan. UNI MBN NST MCR
Tags: #EAM Jaishankar arrives in Paro after Bumthang visit# set for royal audience
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