New Delhi, Feb 21 President Pranab Mukherjee wished Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on his birthday Feb 21.
In his message to the king, the president said: “It gives me great pleasure to convey the warm greetings and felicitations of the government and people of India on the occasion of Your Majesty’s birth anniversary.”
“We wish you a long life of good health and happiness as you guide the people of Bhutan towards ever greater progress and prosperity,” he added.
Drawing upon the importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries, the president said: “The people of India appreciate and value the contribution of the visionary Druk Gyalpos (the king of Bhutan) to the present state of excellent relations between India and Bhutan.
“Your Majesty’s personal commitment to our bilateral relations and Your Majesty’s leadership have brought further strength and substance to the unique relationship between India and Bhutan.”
Mukherjee visited Bhutan in November 2014, the first presidential visit to Thimpu in 26 years.
The president’s sojourn succeeded Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan, his first visit abroad after becoming the prime minister in May 2014.
According to a Bhutanese daily, the two high-profile state visits within one year were indicative of the importance India attached to its neighbour.
King Wangchuck was born Feb 21, 1980.