Bhutan willing to have diplomatic relations with China
Bhutan has expressed interest in establishing diplomatic relations with its northern neighbour China. In a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley expressed willingness to establish formal diplomatic ties with China at the earliest possible.
Fourth King Jigme Singye, during his last years of rule, had announced that Bhutan will not have diplomatic relations with permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as the Rio+20 summit, which started Wednesday afternoon.
Wen said China highly appreciates Bhutan’s staunch support of China’s position on issues concerning Taiwan and Tibet.
he further said, China values the traditional friendship between the two nations and respects Bhutan’s choice for its development path according to its own national conditions.
He said China is ready to forge formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence popularly called Panchaseel.
He also said China is willing to complete border demarcation with Bhutan at an early date and strengthen exchanges in various fields so as to push bilateral ties to a higher level.
Thinely, said talks with Wen carry great historic significance as it marks the first meeting between the heads of the two governments.
He said, Bhutan highly appreciate China’s endeavor to safeguard the common interests of developing countries in international and regional affairs and reaffirmed Bhutan’s one China policy.
Thinley and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa also met on the sidelines of Rio+20 summit in Brazil on Thursday to discuss bilateral issues.
PM Thinley on the occasion, explained President Rajapaksa how his country developed a ‘Happiness Index’ following a UN programme in April this year.
The two leaders discussed ways of developing such a programme in Sri Lanka with Bhutanese assistance. PM Thinley on the occasion also shared information with President Rajapaksa on the upcoming elections in Bhutan.
The Premier pointed out that as in Sri Lanka, there was an inclination by youth to join politics in Bhutan and described it as a positive trend.
Thinley, who became political celebrity after the UN happiness summit remained busy with diplomatic meetings on sidelines of the summit in Brazil.
Rio summit is his last step to get opinions from experts and leaders on happiness before submitting a complete report to the UN next year.
This is also an opportunity for Bhutan to get support for its candidacy in non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Earlier, PM Thinley had met with the United Nations’ Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Administrator, Helen Clark, in New York on his way to Rio.
He presented copies of the resolution made by UN conference in April to Ki-moon.