External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, on his first foreign visit after assuming office, arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit during which he will hold bilateral meetings with Bhutanese leadership.
Krishna, who is accompanied by Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon and other senior officials of the Ministry, was received by Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering and Information and Broadcasting Minister Nandlal Rai on his arrival at the international airport here.
The External Affairs Minister also flagged off the first flight of Paro-Bagdogra (Assam) flight of Bhutan's Druk Air that would facilitate greater connectivity to promote trade and tourism between the two countries.
"India and Bhutan share uniquely warm and cordial relation. These are founded on close consultations, maturity, complete trust, mutual understanding, shared interest and mutually beneficial cooperation," Krishna said in his remarks after arriving here.
He also said that his visit was aimed at further strengthening of the bilateral ties and economic cooperation.
While a multifaceted cooperation covers a broad canvas, he said cooperation in the hydro-power sector is the key element.
At present, the joint hydro power project between India and Bhutan was harnessing only four per cent of the total capacity of 30,000 MW which Bhutan has and the target is to increase it by 10,000 MW by 2020.
Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Pavan K Verma was also present at the airport.
Wide range of issues including economic cooperation and strengthening of relationship between the two countries is expected to figure during the meetings between Krishna and Bhutanese leadership.
Besides bilateral ties, focus of the visit will be on the situation in the region given Bhutan's strategic location between India and China.
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