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Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan
Visit to Maldives 2011

Prime Minister of Bhutan Concludes the Visit to Maldives

Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley has concluded his visit to the Maldives. He was seen off at the Malé International Airport by President Mohamed Nasheed.

Meeting the press before departure, President Nasheed and Prime Minister Thinley noted that Prime Minister Thinley's "fulfilling" visit to the Maldives has identified more opportunities for deeper understanding and areas for further collaboration and cooperation between both countries.

President Nasheed said consultations with Prime Minister Thinley have increased the government's confidence as it prepared to host the 17th SAARC Summit in the Maldives later this year.

The President also extended well wishes to the King and the people of Bhutan on behalf of the government, the people of the Maldives and himself.

Addressing the Maldivian press at Malé International Airport, the Bhutanese Prime Minister said this visit, in particular, has been one that offered tremendous opportunity for deeper understanding, noting that this was not his first visit to the Maldives.

Prime Minister Thinley told the press that during the visit he has been "inspired by the many achievements that President Nasheed and his government have made in this very brief period of two years."

Further, he added that as President Nasheed assumes the leadership of SAARC in November this year, "we will all have reasons for faith and confidence for renewed, for a more vigorous, for a more dynamic association."

Prime Minister Thinley made the visit as the as the current Chair of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).

During the four-day visit, Prime Minister Thinley called on the President and held official talks between both governments. He also met with the Speaker of People's Majlis and members of the Maldivian government.

Remarks by President Mohamed Nasheed at the State Banquet hosted by the President in honour of Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Y. Thinley

Prime Minister of Bhutan; Our Guests from Bhutan; Members of the Cabinet; Members of Parliament; and Everyone else gathered here tonight.

Speaker of the Majlis.

I went to Bhutan a few months back for the 16th SAARC Summit. Of course, the hospitality rendered to us, it will be extremely difficult, Your Excellency, for us to do justice to that. But in our modest manner we will try our best to be as hospitable and give you, Your Excellency, most importantly a good time in the Maldives.

We are both small and vulnerable nations developing, facing a number of challenges both in our social order as much as our economic indicators and challenges.

Bhutan has hosted the 16th SAARC Summit very successfully and, Prime Minister, I commend you for that.

And now we face the challenge of doing the same and again having had set such standards it, of course, won't be easy for us to do the same. But again in our modest manner, we will try our best.

We wish, and I wish all the best for our friendly relations. I would like to raise a toast for the long standing relationship of both our countries and to the good health of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.

Thank you Prime Minister.

Bhutan Prime Minister Praises Maldivian Government's Vision

Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmi Y. Thinley has said Bhutan's enthusiasm for bilateral cooperation with the Maldives has been elevated by the impressive achievements of the Maldivian government and the bold and visionary initiatives it is pursuing.

Prime Minister Thinley made the assertion speaking at the state banquet hosted by President Mohamed Nasheed in his honour yesterday.

He noted other than the geographical difference between the Maldives and Bhutan, both countries were more alike.

"We are both small, locked by land or sea. We are both youthful democracies with fragile ecologies and vulnerable economies," he added

In his remarks, Prime Minister Thinley also highlighted the engagements with the Maldivian government on a number of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

On bilateral relation, he said both governments have identified a number of areas including education, health, tourism, housing, environment and governance, "in which we have agreed to enhance or initiate consultations and cooperation."

Further, on regional cooperation, he underscored that both the Maldives and Bhutan "shared the determination to make SAARC a more focused and effective mechanism for regional peace, stability, cooperation and collective growth."

Rejoicing the Maldives' assumption of presidency of the regional association on November this year, Bhutanese Prime Minister said:

President Nasheed's "belief in and commitment to regional cooperation, I am certain that SAARC will make major strides under his stewardship."

The Maldives will host 17th SAARC Summit in November this year.

At the state banquet held at the Official Residence of the President, Mulee-aage, President Nasheed commended Prime Minister Thinley for the success of 16th SAARC Summit hosted by Bhutan in 2010.

"Now we face the challenge of doing the same. And again, having had set such standards, it, of course, won't be easy for us to do the same. But again in our modest manner, we will try our best," he added.

The state banquet proceeded with a demonstration of Maldivian cultural performances.

The prime minister was then escorted to the newly established office at Gyalyong Tshogkhang in a chipdrel procession and presented a guard of honour by the Royal Bhutan Police.

The Dorji Lopon of the Zhung Dratshang presided over a special tendryil ceremony inside the prime minister's office and offered the Tashi Zegye (offering of the eight auspicious objects). Government officials and people's representatives of Thimphu offered the ku-sung-thugten mendrel to the prime minister.

Thousands of well wishers, who offered khadar and tashi delek to the prime minister, said they were extremely moved by the historic occasion. "It demonstrates the trust and confidence of the people in the new democratically elected government established by our Kings," said a Thimphu businessman.

"It's a privilege to be part of history," said a civil servant. A local leader said that he had come to offer his prayers that the prime minister would fulfill His Majesty's vision of serving the people through a democratically elected government.

Meanwhile, the establishment of the government was completed yesterday with the announcement of portfolios of 10 cabinet ministers, who also received dakyens from His Majesty the King. The party won 45 of the 47 seats to the National Assembly in the March 24 general elections.

Source: Republic of Maldives, The President's Press Office, April 2011
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