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Bhutan's monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, has embarked on a week-long official visit to India, commencing with his arrival at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Accompanying the king are members of his family and high-level Bhutanese government representatives.
On landing, a welcome committee led by Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, which included ministers Ranoj Pegu, Ranjit Kumar Dass, and other state dignitaries, received the royal visitors.
The royal family's itinerary in Assam includes a pilgrimage to the revered Kamakhya Temple. Additionally, they will be honored with a special dinner hosted by the Governor of Assam, Gulab Chand Kataria, at the Raj Bhawan. Furthermore, the Chief Minister is scheduled to make a formal visit to King Wangchuk at the Radisson Blu Hotel, where the royal family will be lodged.
King Wangchuk's visit will include high-profile meetings with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, and other central government officials before its conclusion on November 10.
The royal entourage's visit extends beyond Assam, with scheduled activities in Maharashtra. To facilitate a seamless visit, the Assam government has arranged comprehensive protocols, including traffic regulations in Guwahati.
In preparation for the royal visit, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held discussions with the Royal Bhutanese Ambassador to India, Major General Vetsop Namgyel, on November 1. In a gesture of camaraderie, the Assam government has dedicated five medical college seats for Bhutanese nationals.
This state visit is particularly significant as it follows closely on the heels of the 25th round of border discussions between Bhutan and China in Beijing, which culminated in a pact delineating the roles of the joint technical committee in the border demarcation between Bhutan and China.
