Bangkok: In a reaffirmation of their enduring friendship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and his Bhutanese counterpart, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, met on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok earlier this month. The meeting underscored the deep-rooted ties between the two Himalayan neighbors and highlighted their shared commitment to regional cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi took to social media after the meeting, expressing satisfaction with the discussions. “Had a great conversation with my good friend, PM Tobgay. India’s friendship with Bhutan is robust. We are cooperating extensively in several sectors,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Echoing this sentiment, Prime Minister Tobgay described the interaction as a personal and diplomatic delight. “Always a pleasure to meet my elder brother and mentor, PM Narendra Modi ji. Discussed BIMSTEC, enhancing regional cooperation, and furthering Bhutan-India friendship,” he wrote.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in recent months. In February, Prime Minister Tobgay visited New Delhi to participate in the inaugural Leadership Conclave of the School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL), where both leaders reiterated their dedication to deepening the unique and historical Indo-Bhutan partnership.

India and Bhutan’s bilateral relationship is widely regarded as a model of friendship and cooperation, founded on mutual trust, goodwill, and close people-to-people ties. The frequent high-level exchanges between the two nations reflect the strength and depth of this special partnership.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year further reinforced these connections. During the visit, both countries issued a joint statement titled “Bharat and Bhutan: Together for Progress and Development,” which emphasized their shared cultural heritage, geographic proximity, and economic interdependence.

“The enduring partnership between our two nations is anchored in our common values as well as our shared cultural and spiritual heritage. Bharat for Bhutan and Bhutan for Bharat is an abiding reality of the region, nurtured by the enlightened vision of successive Druk Gyalpos of Bhutan and the political leadership in both countries,” the statement noted.

It also highlighted the long-standing development cooperation between the two countries, dating back to Bhutan’s First Five-Year Plan in 1961. “India’s development partnership with Bhutan has been empowering the people and ensuring development across sectors and regions. This collaboration is a confluence of India’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness.”

As the BIMSTEC summit aimed to promote regional cooperation among South and Southeast Asian nations, the Indo-Bhutan bilateral meeting stood out as a reaffirmation of the values of friendship, partnership, and shared progress.