Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to Bhutan, highlighting a new era of cooperation between the two nations in energy, healthcare, and connectivity. He stated that these developments would inject fresh momentum into the India–Bhutan partnership. Expressing gratitude to the Bhutanese leadership, PM Modi thanked King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for personally seeing him off at the airport in Thimphu as he departed for New Delhi.
The visit coincided with Bhutan’s celebration of several important milestones—the 70th birth anniversary of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the Global Peace Prayer Festival, and the exhibition of Lord Buddha’s relics from India. These events underscored the cultural and spiritual bond shared between the two nations.
Earlier, PM Modi joined King Wangchuck and the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, at the Kalachakra “Wheel of Time” Empowerment ceremony at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium. Presided over by His Holiness Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan, the event attracted over 30,000 devotees and international visitors. Modi described the ceremony as a spiritually enriching experience with immense cultural significance for Buddhists worldwide.
During his stay, PM Modi also met with the Fourth King and extended heartfelt greetings on his 70th birthday, conveying India’s wishes for his continued health and happiness. The discussions between the two sides spanned key areas of mutual interest, emphasizing Bhutan’s growing role in regional stability and sustainable development.
A series of new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit, deepening collaboration in several strategic sectors. The first MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, aims to enhance cooperation in renewable energy fields such as solar, wind, biomass, energy storage, and green hydrogen.
Another MoU focused on advancing cooperation in healthcare and medicine. This agreement will facilitate collaboration in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, maternal health, non-communicable disease management, digital health initiatives, and telemedicine. Both nations also agreed to promote joint research and professional training for healthcare experts.
A third MoU between Bhutan’s PEMA Secretariat and India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) focuses on institutional capacity building in mental health services. The collaboration aims to create academic programs, conduct research, and enhance the training of Bhutanese mental health professionals.
The visit blended diplomacy, cultural reverence, and development-oriented agreements—solidifying India and Bhutan’s relationship as one built on trust, shared heritage, and a common vision for progress and peace in South Asia.
