The Prime Minister, Jigmi. Y Thinley left for Madhya Pradesh, India, today at the invitation of the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Lyonchhoen is going via New Delhi where he will lay the foundation stone of the University of Buddhist Studies in Sanchi on September 21.
While in Madhya Pradesh, Lyonchhoen will meet the Chief Minister and Governor of Madhya Pradesh, and the Opposition Leader of Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj.
From Madhya Pradesh, Lyonchhoen will travel directly to New York on September 23 to attend the high level segment of the 67th Session of the United Nations’ General Assembly, which will start from September 25.
Lyonchhoen will address the United Nations’ General Assembly on September 28. He will also participate in a number of important side events including the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Forum of Small States, where he will deliver the keynote address on, “Small States and their Drive to Development”.
Lyonchhoen will meet a number of Heads of States and Governments and other dignitaries to seek support for Bhutan’s candidature for the UN Security Council for the term 2013-14.
According to a release from the Prime Minister’s office, Lyonchhoen will also pursue other issues of bilateral and multilateral interests such as issues related to sustainable development, post 2015 development agenda and the Happiness Initiative launched by Bhutan.
Lyonchhoen is accompanied by the economic affairs minister, Khandu Wangchuk, the Minister-in-Charge for Foreign Affairs, MP Karma Rangdol, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Dasho Penden Wangchuk, Cabinet Secretary, Dasho Yeshey Dorji, Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Daw Penjo, and other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet Secretariat.
