Bhutan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a three-step roadmap to expedite boundary talks.

Bhutan shares a border with China that is over 400-km-long. Both nations have held 24 rounds of military talks to resolve their boundary dispute.

The country believes the MoU on the three-step roadmap will provide a fresh impetus to the boundary talks.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-all-the-countries-with-which-china-is-in-a-territorial-dispute-419867">In Pics: All the countries with which China is in a territorial dispute</a>

The Bhutanese foreign ministry said "The negotiations which have been conducted in a spirit of understanding and accommodation have been guided by the 1988 Joint Communique on the Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the Boundary and the 1998 agreement on the maintenance of peace, tranquillity, and status quo in the Bhutan-China Border areas.''

"During the 10th Expert Group Meeting in Kunming in April this year, the two sides agreed on a three-step roadmap that will build on the 1988 Guiding Principles and help to expedite the ongoing boundary negotiations," it said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-conflict-arunachal-pradesh-integral-and-inalienable-part-of-india-mea-rebuffs-china-420399" hreflang="en">India-China conflict | Arunachal Pradesh integral and inalienable part of India: MEA rebuffs China</a>

The pact between the two countries comes as India and China are locked in a standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).&nbsp;

In response, Arindam Bagchi, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, said ''We have noted the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bhutan and China today. You are aware that Bhutan and China have been holding boundary negotiations since 1984. India has similarly been holding boundary negotiations with China.''

Bhutan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a three-step roadmap to expedite boundary talks. Bhutan shares a border with China that is over 400-km-long.

Bhutan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a three-step roadmap to expedite boundary talks. Bhutan shares a border with China that is over 400-km-long. Both nations have held 24 rounds of military talks to resolve their boundary dispute. The country believes the MoU on the three-step roadmap will provide a fresh impetus to the boundary talks. Also see | In Pics: All the countries with which China is in a territorial dispute The Bhutanese foreign ministry said "The negotiations which have been conducted in a spirit of understanding and accommodation have been guided by the 1988 Joint Communique on the Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the Boundary and the 1998 agreement on the maintenance of peace, tranquillity, and status quo in the Bhutan-China Border areas.'' "During the 10th Expert Group Meeting in Kunming in April this year, the two sides agreed on a three-step roadmap that will build on the 1988 Guiding Principles and help to expedite the ongoing boundary negotiations," it said. Also read | India-China conflict | Arunachal Pradesh integral and inalienable part of India: MEA rebuffs China The pact between the two countries comes as India and China are locked in a standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In response, Arindam Bagchi, the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, said ''We have noted the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bhutan and China today. You are aware that Bhutan and China have been holding boundary negotiations since 1984. India has similarly been holding boundary negotiations with China.''

Bhutan and China sign MoU to expedite boundary talks

China has been gradually and stealthily invading its tiny neighbour Bhutan for years now, reveals new research findings.A paper published by journal Foreign Policy stated that China has built an entire town, replete with roads, a power plant, two CPC buildings, a communications base, military and police outposts and a warehouse, almost 8 kilometres into Bhutan, reported the Australian news, site news.com.au.

In early April, the Chinese welcomed a delegation of international visitors to the city of Kunming in Yunnan province, which discussed China`s mountainous southern border, which lies uninhabited and sports wild terrain.

With a population of just 800,000 compared to China`s 1.4 billion, "there is little Bhutan can do" but watch as Beijing takes large gulps of its territory, the research paper states.

"This involves a strategy that is more provocative than anything China has done on its land borders in the past," wrote Robert Barnett in Foreign Policy earlier this month.

The largely Buddhist Bhutanese have much in common with the people of Tibet which now lies within China. But diplomatically and economically, the government in Thimphu has closer links to India and Beijing doesn`t even have an embassy in Bhutan.

That Bhutan and China can`t agree where their 470 km common border lies is nothing new. By some accounts Beijing claims 12 per cent of the territory governed by Thimphu. The recent meeting in Kunming was the 25th the two nations have held concerning the frontier.

China has long built roads into these disputed territories. But building a whole town within the internationally recognised territory of another nation, even if that territory is disputed, is striking, reported news.com.au.

Called Gyalaphug, or Jieluobu in Chinese, an administration block at its centre features a hammer and sickle. A nearby banner proclaims "Resolutely uphold the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping!"It`s estimated several hundred people, and even more yaks, could now live in Gyalaphug. That number is boosted by a rotation of construction workers, party cadres, police and soldiers.

"There is little that Bhutan can do," said Barnett, given China would know it`s clearly violating a 1998 agreement to leave the disputed areas be, reported news.com.au.

To the frustration of Bhutan, China`s territorial claims keep growing. Gyalaphug, for instance, is well within Bhutan according to some official Chinese maps from the 1980s.

Also, Bhutan is adamant that the dispute in the country`s east, where Beijing now claims land in the Sakteng wildlife reserve, is a new one.

It`s never been raised by China before. Sakteng does not even border China, reported news.com.au.It does, however, border the India` north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing also claims as its own. Observers say that`s another sign it`s not really about Bhutan at all. China`s real target appears to be India.

Stealthily but steadily, Beijing is reportedly building whole towns across internationally recognised borders in a new and dangerous global power play.What Beijing has already done in the South China Sea - building outposts and claiming dubious sovereignty - is now also being done in the Himalayas, according to reports.&nbsp;

China has been gradually and stealthily invading its tiny neighbour Bhutan for years now, reveals new research findings.A paper published by journal Foreign Policy stated that China has built an entire town, replete with roads, a power plant, two CPC buildings, a communications base, military and police outposts and a warehouse, almost 8 kilometres into Bhutan, reported the Australian news, site news.

China has been gradually and stealthily invading its tiny neighbour Bhutan for years now, reveals new research findings.A paper published by journal Foreign Policy stated that China has built an entire town, replete with roads, a power plant, two CPC buildings, a communications base, military and police outposts and a warehouse, almost 8 kilometres into Bhutan, reported the Australian news, site news.com.au. In early April, the Chinese welcomed a delegation of international visitors to the city of Kunming in Yunnan province, which discussed China`s mountainous southern border, which lies uninhabited and sports wild terrain. With a population of just 800,000 compared to China`s 1.4 billion, "there is little Bhutan can do" but watch as Beijing takes large gulps of its territory, the research paper states. "This involves a strategy that is more provocative than anything China has done on its land borders in the past," wrote Robert Barnett in Foreign Policy earlier this month. The largely Buddhist Bhutanese have much in common with the people of Tibet which now lies within China. But diplomatically and economically, the government in Thimphu has closer links to India and Beijing doesn`t even have an embassy in Bhutan. That Bhutan and China can`t agree where their 470 km common border lies is nothing new. By some accounts Beijing claims 12 per cent of the territory governed by Thimphu. The recent meeting in Kunming was the 25th the two nations have held concerning the frontier. China has long built roads into these disputed territories. But building a whole town within the internationally recognised territory of another nation, even if that territory is disputed, is striking, reported news.com.au. Called Gyalaphug, or Jieluobu in Chinese, an administration block at its centre features a hammer and sickle. A nearby banner proclaims "Resolutely uphold the core position of General Secretary Xi Jinping!"It`s estimated several hundred people, and even more yaks, could now live in Gyalaphug. That number is boosted by a rotation of construction workers, party cadres, police and soldiers. "There is little that Bhutan can do," said Barnett, given China would know it`s clearly violating a 1998 agreement to leave the disputed areas be, reported news.com.au. To the frustration of Bhutan, China`s territorial claims keep growing. Gyalaphug, for instance, is well within Bhutan according to some official Chinese maps from the 1980s. Also, Bhutan is adamant that the dispute in the country`s east, where Beijing now claims land in the Sakteng wildlife reserve, is a new one. It`s never been raised by China before. Sakteng does not even border China, reported news.com.au.It does, however, border the India` north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing also claims as its own. Observers say that`s another sign it`s not really about Bhutan at all. China`s real target appears to be India. Stealthily but steadily, Beijing is reportedly building whole towns across internationally recognised borders in a new and dangerous global power play.What Beijing has already done in the South China Sea - building outposts and claiming dubious sovereignty - is now also being done in the Himalayas, according to reports.

China slowly invading Himalayan neighbour Bhutan: Study

Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated.&nbsp;

"Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement.

"All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient," it added.&nbsp;"The boundary between&nbsp;Bhutan-China is under negotiation&nbsp;and hasn't been demarcated," the statement said.&nbsp;

The development comes amid reports of China claiming the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary which falls in the Trashi-gang district. China had objected to the sanctuary&nbsp;asserting that it was on its land and not part of Bhutan.

China said it was "disputed" and asserted its claim. "The Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is located in the China-Bhutan disputed areas which is on the agenda of China-Bhutan boundary talk" and "China opposes and does not join the council decision on this project," it said.

"The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry had said earlier. Bhutan, on the other hand, had said that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan".

The two countries will now seek to resolve the issue over the next round of talks. The dates of the talks have not been communicated yet by the two countries.

Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated. "Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement.

Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated. "Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement. "All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient," it added. "The boundary between Bhutan-China is under negotiation and hasn't been demarcated," the statement said. The development comes amid reports of China claiming the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary which falls in the Trashi-gang district. China had objected to the sanctuary asserting that it was on its land and not part of Bhutan. China said it was "disputed" and asserted its claim. "The Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is located in the China-Bhutan disputed areas which is on the agenda of China-Bhutan boundary talk" and "China opposes and does not join the council decision on this project," it said. "The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry had said earlier. Bhutan, on the other hand, had said that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan". The two countries will now seek to resolve the issue over the next round of talks. The dates of the talks have not been communicated yet by the two countries.

Boundary with China under negotiation, it hasn't been demarcated: Bhutan

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan.

The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament.

Provisional results show the DNT winning at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) leading on remaining 17.

The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday.

Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years.

Bhutan transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008.

According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round.

The ruling People's Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan. The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan. The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament. Provisional results show the DNT winning at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) leading on remaining 17. The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday. Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years. Bhutan transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008. According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round. The ruling People's Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party set to win Bhutan elections

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense.

China's annexation of Tibet in 1951 and an unresolved border dispute have long been irritants in ties with Bhutan, and India would prefer they remain estranged.

India jumped to Bhutan's defence last year when Chinese troops started building a road on Doklam, a territory claimed by both China and Bhutan. &nbsp;

The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation lasted 72 days before the Indian and Chinese armies pulled back.

But now Beijing is seeking to mend relations and extend a hand of friendship to the tiny Himalayan kingdom, despite the two having no diplomatic relations.

Chinese shipments have shot up in the past decade, with goods from machinery and cement to electricals and toys making Beijing the third largest source of foreign products to heavily import-dependent Bhutan.

And stuck between the competing regional powers, Bhutan has been gasping to assert its sovereignty and shrug off decades of heavy dependence on India.

Many among Bhutan's 800,000 population feel India's embrace is becoming a stranglehold and getting in the way of Thimpu's ties with other countries.

"Within Bhutan, there is a growing demand to diversify and loosen its dependence on India," University of British Columbia historian Tsering Shakya said.

"However, given the geography and history it is not easy for Bhutan to ignore India's interest."&nbsp;

Nestled in the highest, snow-capped mountain range in the world, Bhutan is one of the world's few countries to have never been colonised, and has retained much of its unique culture and charm.

The country's fourth king famously introduced the concept of gross national happiness in the 1970s, shunning the usual gross domestic product used by most modern countries to measure economic growth.&nbsp;

'Jealous big brother'

Bhutan was almost as isolated as the mythical Shangri-La until the early 1960s when its first highway was built.

But it has become increasingly dependent on neighbours, as shown in 2013 when India was accused of triggering a fuel crisis by cutting subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene -- which some say was a punishment to Bhutan for warming up to the Chinese.

"If we (India and Bhutan) are good friends, our friendship shouldn't be affected by our relations with other countries," said Vimla Pradhan, a 21-year-old college student.

"It appears as if everything Bhutan does, it should have tacit approval from India. India will always come before others but please don't behave like a jealous big brother," she told AFP in Thimpu.

Pradhan, who studies political science and philosophy, is not isolated in her views.

Many aspiring Bhutanese are restless for new opportunities at a time when youth unemployment is 10.6 percent against the national average of 2.4 percent.

India has been generous with loans and grants but Bhutan could do with more investment, and China has deep pockets.

"Where are the jobs? Look at any nook and corner and you will find young men hanging around aimlessly," said Karma Choden, a mother of two, as she waited for customers at a roadside stall selling dry cheese and red chillies.

Bhutan, a growing economy which has been trying to shed its tag as one of the world's least developed countries, is struggling to reduce unemployment as it gears up for only its third ever election on Thursday.

The ruling party was knocked out in the first round of polling in mid-September, signalling the electorate's desperation for change. &nbsp;

Rich dividends

China's policy of mixing soft diplomacy and economic aid has reaped rich dividends in South Asian countries where India has long held sway like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

China has been reaching out to Bhutan through sports, religious and cultural visits as well as scholarships to Bhutanese students.

Its vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou made a rare trip to Bhutan in July.

Bhutan has also been receiving a growing number of Chinese tourists, who have to pay a sizeable visa fee, unlike their Indian counterparts. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Bhutan surged from fewer than 20 a decade ago to 6,421 in 2017, according to official figures.&nbsp;

Taxi driver Kinzang Dorji is unable to make much sense of Bhutan's diplomacy and history. But he understands the value of foreign investment.

"Bhutan should make friends with other countries," Dorji said. &nbsp;

"Many Chinese tourists have started coming and they are bringing in a lot of money. We don't mind them at all," he said before zooming past a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Thimphu. 
&nbsp;

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense.

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense. China's annexation of Tibet in 1951 and an unresolved border dispute have long been irritants in ties with Bhutan, and India would prefer they remain estranged. India jumped to Bhutan's defence last year when Chinese troops started building a road on Doklam, a territory claimed by both China and Bhutan. The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation lasted 72 days before the Indian and Chinese armies pulled back. But now Beijing is seeking to mend relations and extend a hand of friendship to the tiny Himalayan kingdom, despite the two having no diplomatic relations. Chinese shipments have shot up in the past decade, with goods from machinery and cement to electricals and toys making Beijing the third largest source of foreign products to heavily import-dependent Bhutan. And stuck between the competing regional powers, Bhutan has been gasping to assert its sovereignty and shrug off decades of heavy dependence on India. Many among Bhutan's 800,000 population feel India's embrace is becoming a stranglehold and getting in the way of Thimpu's ties with other countries. "Within Bhutan, there is a growing demand to diversify and loosen its dependence on India," University of British Columbia historian Tsering Shakya said. "However, given the geography and history it is not easy for Bhutan to ignore India's interest." Nestled in the highest, snow-capped mountain range in the world, Bhutan is one of the world's few countries to have never been colonised, and has retained much of its unique culture and charm. The country's fourth king famously introduced the concept of gross national happiness in the 1970s, shunning the usual gross domestic product used by most modern countries to measure economic growth. 'Jealous big brother' Bhutan was almost as isolated as the mythical Shangri-La until the early 1960s when its first highway was built. But it has become increasingly dependent on neighbours, as shown in 2013 when India was accused of triggering a fuel crisis by cutting subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene -- which some say was a punishment to Bhutan for warming up to the Chinese. "If we (India and Bhutan) are good friends, our friendship shouldn't be affected by our relations with other countries," said Vimla Pradhan, a 21-year-old college student. "It appears as if everything Bhutan does, it should have tacit approval from India. India will always come before others but please don't behave like a jealous big brother," she told AFP in Thimpu. Pradhan, who studies political science and philosophy, is not isolated in her views. Many aspiring Bhutanese are restless for new opportunities at a time when youth unemployment is 10.6 percent against the national average of 2.4 percent. India has been generous with loans and grants but Bhutan could do with more investment, and China has deep pockets. "Where are the jobs? Look at any nook and corner and you will find young men hanging around aimlessly," said Karma Choden, a mother of two, as she waited for customers at a roadside stall selling dry cheese and red chillies. Bhutan, a growing economy which has been trying to shed its tag as one of the world's least developed countries, is struggling to reduce unemployment as it gears up for only its third ever election on Thursday. The ruling party was knocked out in the first round of polling in mid-September, signalling the electorate's desperation for change. Rich dividends China's policy of mixing soft diplomacy and economic aid has reaped rich dividends in South Asian countries where India has long held sway like Sri Lanka and the Maldives. China has been reaching out to Bhutan through sports, religious and cultural visits as well as scholarships to Bhutanese students. Its vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou made a rare trip to Bhutan in July. Bhutan has also been receiving a growing number of Chinese tourists, who have to pay a sizeable visa fee, unlike their Indian counterparts. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Bhutan surged from fewer than 20 a decade ago to 6,421 in 2017, according to official figures. Taxi driver Kinzang Dorji is unable to make much sense of Bhutan's diplomacy and history. But he understands the value of foreign investment. "Bhutan should make friends with other countries," Dorji said. "Many Chinese tourists have started coming and they are bringing in a lot of money. We don't mind them at all," he said before zooming past a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Thimphu.

Bhutan polls: China woos Himalayan kingdom, to India's displeasure

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Bhutan and China sign MoU to expedite boundary talks

China slowly invading Himalayan neighbour Bhutan: Study

Boundary with China under negotiation, it hasn't been demarcated: Bhutan

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party set to win Bhutan elections

Bhutan polls: China woos Himalayan kingdom, to India's displeasure