India, Bhutan to sign upgraded Friendship Treaty

New Delhi, Jan 8: India and Bhutan have reached an agreement on an upgraded version of a 57-yea- old Treaty to enable them to intensify cooperation in hydro-power, trade and commerce and human resource development in conformity with the expanded nature of their relationship.

The Treaty will be formally signed during the visit of Bhutan Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the Fifth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here today.

Mr Sarna said the two countries had held discussions during the past few years to review and update the 'India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty' relating to promoting and fostering relations of friendship and neighbourliness signed on August 8, 1949, in Darjeeling.

The review was conducted most recently during the visit of Bhutan King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk to India in July 2006, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon to Bhutan in October 2006 and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in December 2006.

''Based on these discussions, we have, together with Bhutan, reached an agreement on the text of an updated India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty,'' Mr Sarna added.

Mr Sarna said the Treaty not only reflected the contemporary nature of the relationship, but also laid the foundation for their future development. It aimed at consolidating the mutually-cooperative relationship in a manner that is responsive to each other's national interests. ''The Treaty will enable further intensification of our relations in areas such as hydro-power cooperation, trade and commerce and human resource development,'' he added.

The finalisation of the Treaty coincides with Bhutan's transition to Constitutional Democracy and reflects the desire of both governments to put inm place a framework for future growth of relationship,'' he said.

UNI