Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Bhutan, was on Friday, conferred Order of the Druk Gyalpo, which is the country's highest civilian honour. The award recognizes PM Modi’s contribution to strengthening the India-Bhutan friendship. Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck presented the honour to Modi.
After being conferred the honour, the prime minister said this is a "very big" day in his life. "Every award is special, but when you receive an award from another country, this shows that both countries are moving on the right path. I accept this honour on behalf of every Indian and thank you for this."
He said this honour is not his personal achievement but of the 140 crore Indians.
Modi noted that the aspirations and goals of the youth in India and Bhutan are similar. "India has set a target of becoming a developed country by 2047, while Bhutan has set a target of becoming a high-income country by 2034. To fulfil your goal, India is standing with you at every step to make both 'Brand Bhutan' and 'Bhutan Believe' successful."
Speaking about the relationship between the two countries, the prime minister said the ties are both ancient and contemporary. Further, he told the Bhutanese people that "India resides in your hearts".
Modi's visit to Bhutan seeks to further cement India's relations with the Himalayan nation as part of the country's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
