Thinley first choice of foreign visit is India

Thimphu, March 29: Druk Phuensum Tshogpa president Jigmi Y. Thinley, likely to be the new prime minister, said his first choice of foreign visit after assuming office will be India.

Traditionally, the visit to India remains at the top of foreign visit list for Bhutanese rulers, many not going beyond that.

In his first press conference in Pemagatshel, his residence, organized after the victory in the election, Thinley said, "The prime minister of Bhutan will look forward to being invited to India as the first country that he will visit as the leader of the first democratically elected government of the country."

He highlighted the importance on keeping with the strengthening relations between Bhutan and India like in the past. 

"You'll see a government that is not bigger than what it is now. You'll see a government that will be very transparent, very accessible to the media, and that will put in place various ways and means to make itself accountable to the people at regular intervals," he said

Thinley, a staunch royalist, also said he would act stern on issue like corruption, that has already become a bigger problem in the country. Bhutan News Service