'Modi is friendly, very knowledgeable person'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friendly and very knowledgeable person and Bhutan will use his maiden foreign visit as an “opportunity” to further cement the already strong ties, his Bhutanese counterpart has said.

“He is a friendly person and obviously very knowledgeable and well disposed towards Bhutan... He is very aware of the details of the India-Bhutan relationship and overall gives a sense of purpose and hope,” Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said about the 63-year-old Indian leader.

Modi arrived here on Sunday on his first foreign trip since becoming prime minister last month and a grand welcome was accorded to him by the Bhutanese government which rolled out a red carpet and gave a ceremonial guard of honour to him.

“For one, we are going to take this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and use the opportunity to further cement the already strong ties of friendship,” Tobgay, who will hold bilateral talks with Modi, was quoted as saying by The Bhutanese newspaper.

He said the primary focus of the talks would be on strengthening ties, but Bhutan would discuss all the commitments made and the generous support that the government receives from India.

On hydropower projects, he said they would discuss the situation which is good as of now.He said Bhutan looks forward to strengthening the economic partnership with India and to boost its economy.

Tobgay said that Indian companies are already investing in Bhutan and that Bhutan needed to fast track its work with the Indian private sector.

He expressed confidence that Modi’s visit would take the friendship between two countries to further heights.