Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) India Monday rolled out the red carpet for Bhutan’s newly-wed royal couple who are here on a nine-day state visit and underlined its commitment to the development of the Himalayan state.

Bhutan’s monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema were accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rasthrapati Bhavan in the morning.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held wide-ranging talks with the 31-year-old Oxford-educated Bhutan monarch that focused on ways to expand developmental cooperation.

The two sides also reviewed their cooperation in the field of hydropower generation and discuss steps to scale up trade and investment.

In his talks, Manmohan Singh assured Bhutan’s king of India’s unflinching support for Bhutan’s development, sources said.

The royal couple touched down here Sunday evening and were warmly received by Minister of State for IT and Communications Milind Deora and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai.

This is the royal couple’s first overseas trip after they tied the knot at a colourful Buddhist ceremony at a 17th century monastery in the ancient capital of Punakha Oct 13.

One of the highlights of the king’s visit will be their trip to Rajasthan cities Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur that starts Thursday. The Indian government is said to be arranging a special train on the lines of the Palace on Wheels that will take them across Rajasthan.

Both the king and his wife, who studied at Lawrence School, Sanawar and St Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong, are known to be great admirers of Rajasthan.