Rahul Gandhi meets Bhutan PM, talks about enhancing 'special bond'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi met Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and discussed ways to further strengthen the 'special bond' between the two nations on Saturday.

"I met with Bhutan's Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, in New Delhi today. Our discussions covered a wide range of subjects including ways to strengthen the special bond our two countries share," he tweeted after the meeting.

The Bhutanese PM is on a three-day visit to India on an invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tobgay reached New Delhi on Thursday night and met Modi on Friday at the Hyderabad House in the national Capital.

The two leaders held talks covering bilateral and regional issues of 'mutual interest' and expressed satisfaction at the 'excellent' state of bilateral relations. They also discussed strategic and development partnership that can be beneficial to both the countries.

Tobgay also met President Ram Nath Kovind.

The talks assume significance as last year the Indian and Chinese armies were involved in a 73-day stand-off at the Doklam tri-junction — a disputed area between Bhutan and China falling in Bhutanese territory. Indian troops stopped construction of a road at the disputed Doklam tri-junction by the Chinese army which triggered the stand-off.

Since then the armies have withdrawn, but China has continued to hold position in North Doklam.