Amid tensions over a border dispute and talks for establishing diplomatic relations with China, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and his contingent arrived in Guwahati on Friday on an eight-day long state visit to India.
The visit comes after a development where Thimphu is contemplating establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing.
During his week-long state visit to India, the king will call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, and senior officials of the government of India.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk will also visit Maharashtra, according to a media statement.
Greeting Dzongkha upon the king's arrival in a post on X (known as Twitter) on Friday, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote: "We look forward to the strengthening of the special relationship between our two countries."
The 43-year-old Bhutanese monarch, wearing traditional national dress, paid an obeisance to Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.
During his three-day-long maiden visit to neighbouring Indian state Assam, the Bhutanese Royal delegation will visit Kaziranga National Park.
King Wangchuk will leave for New Delhi on Sunday.
On behalf of the people of Assam, I am elated to welcome His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 3, 2023
Under the guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, we look forward to the strengthening of the special relationship between our two countries. pic.twitter.com/LwvNwAsyPw
Bhutanese authority and India are in talks for linking the landlocked country with the Indian state of Assam via rail links, India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar told earlier in August.
India is expected to fund the 57km railway link.
Ahead of the king's visit, the cabinet in Assam, has reserved five seats for MBBS and BDS for students from Bhutan. India has a 649km long border with Bhutan, out of which Assam shares a 266km long border with the nation.
On his India visit, King Wangchuk is accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema, their two sons, and senior officials of the regime.
The China factor is expected to be one of the top priorities during the tete-a-tete between visiting King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi next week.
China which doesn't have diplomatic relations with Bhutan is jostling for its territorial claim over Doklam Plateau, a tri-junctional point.
The Chinese foreign minister recently requested his Bhutanese counterpart Dr Tandi Dorji in Beijing for early restoration of diplomatic ties and resolve border disputes between the two countries.
