• The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck are on a two-day visit to India.

• During the visit, the King and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions covering the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues of mutual interest. 

• The leaders reviewed the progress in enhancing economic connectivity between the two countries, and exchanged ideas on the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative, a visionary project spearheaded by King Jigme to catalyse Bhutan’s development and strengthen linkages with adjoining border areas in India.

Gelephu Mindfulness City

• The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) will be located in a Special Administrative Region with separate rules and laws that will aim to be an economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia.

• The “mindfulness city” will cover more than 2,500 sq km which is larger than the size of Singapore. 

• GMC will offer a range of incentives aimed at attracting international investment and providing jobs to Bhutan’s predominantly Buddhist population of nearly 800,000. 

• The city will include sectors in finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and ecotourism, among others. 

• In line with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness principles, GMC will promote sustainability, mindfulness, and community well-being, integrating green spaces for meditation, mindfulness-based education, healthcare and wellness centers.

• The city will promote walking and cycling to reduce emissions.

• GMC will be built in phases and is expected to be completed in two decades, with private partners investing in roads, bridges, an airport, houses, schools, hospitals and businesses.

• The brainchild of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, GMC was proposed last year as a city that would encompass “conscious and sustainable businesses, inspired by Buddhist spiritual heritage” and anchored on the values of Gross National Happiness.

• India is supportive of the project and would extend its roads and railway network to the border to connect GMC.

• Gelephu Special Administrative Region will lead to greater economic connectivity in the region in a sustainable manner, promote economic partnerships and bring the people of India and Bhutan closer.

Highlights of the meeting:

• The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made since their last meeting in March 2024 and welcomed the regular high-level visits and consultations covering diverse sectors of cooperation. 

• They positively assessed the expanding partnership between the two countries, including in areas of trade and economic connectivity, infrastructure, energy, skill development, education, health, cultural heritage, capacity building, sports, youth exchanges, digital economy, e-mobility, space technology, environment conservation, and people-to-people contacts.

• The Bhutanese side thanked India for stepping up the development support for Bhutan under the 13th Five Year Plan (2024-29) and India’s support for Thimphu’s economic stimulus programme.

• The King shared with PM Modi the progress in implementation of his vision for the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region, and how India and Bhutan can work together on the project for the betterment of the two peoples and the region.

• The two leaders also reviewed recent progress in strategic partnerships in the energy sector, including the non-hydro sector.

• Both sides expressed satisfaction that the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project was nearing completion and looked forward to its commissioning in the near future.

• The two sides reiterated the importance of cooperation in the hydropower sector, and their commitment to advancing it, including through finalising modalities urgently for new projects, including reservoir hydro projects.

• The two sides also reviewed various projects, including the establishment of two cross-border rail links and boosting digital connectivity.

India keeps an eye on China-Bhutan boundary talks

• The King’s visit to New Delhi comes amid China’s efforts to establish formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan.

• The two sides are also looking at an expeditious resolution of their festering boundary row that could have implications for India’s security interests.

• Over a year back, Bhutan’s then Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.

• A Chinese readout on the talks said Bhutan firmly abides by the one-China principle and stands ready to work with Beijing for an early settlement of the boundary issue.

• New Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for New Delhi's security interests, especially in the Doklam tri-junction.

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