Doklam, RuPay card, Mangdechhu hydropower in focus as Modi lands in Bhutan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Bhutan for a two-day visit to the country.

Modi was received by his Bhutanese counterpart Dr Lotay Tshering and others on his arrival at the Paro International Airport.

A child presented a bouquet to the Prime Minister as he stepped off the plane in Paro- a valley town in Bhutan, west of the capital, Thimphu.

(Image courtesy: @PMBhutan)

The visit scheduled from August 17 to 18 will be the second visit of PM Modi to the South Asian country.

Bhutan was PM's first foreign destination after assuming office in 2014.

(Image courtesy: @PMBhutan)

The itinerary of the prime minister's official tour includes a visit to Simtokha Dzong, a monastery built by Ngawang Namgyal who unified Bhutan.

He will then receive audiences with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and hold talks with Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dr Lotay Tshering.

(Image courtesy: @PMBhutan)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Bhutan from Saturday morning with the focus being on space, hydropower projects and Ru Pay cards.

(Image courtesy: @narendramodi)

Prime minister during his visit will inaugurate Mangdechhu hydropower, a ground station build by ISRO at the cost of Rs 7 crore in Thimpu which will help Bhutan use the transponder in the south Asian satellite and roll out RuPay card.

(Image courtesy: @PMBhutan)

Bhutan will be the second country to roll out RuPay card.

The card will be rolled out in two phases, the first phase by Indian banks and the second by Bhutanese banks.

The trials happened in March.

PM Modi added that his visit to Bhutan at the beginning of the current term reflects the high importance that the Government attaches to India's relations with the Himalayan nation.

(Image courtesy: @PMBhutan)

This will be the first visit by PM Modi to Bhutan after the Doklam crisis of 2017.

The crisis saw a two-month-long standoff between Indian and Chinese army in Bhutanese territory of Doklam which is claimed by Beijing but is part of Bhutan