The Ambassador of Belgium to Bhutan, Pierre Vaesen, and delegation paid a farewell call on the Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang, yesterday.
The Ambassador commended Bhutan’s development philosophy, Gross National Happiness and said that wealth, social security, high degree of material comfort does not necessarily translate to happiness.
Lyonchhen informed the Ambassador that GNH is a new paradigm of development and that poverty, being the main obstacle toward fulfilling the objectives of GNH, needed to be vigilantly addressed.
Lyonchhen asserted that achieving self-reliance while remaining true to the GNH principles must be adhered to at all times.
The Ambassador assured Lyonchhen that he and his colleagues will continue to be forthcoming, supportive and will put in their efforts for furthering engagements in sustainable economic cooperation.
Later, Lyonchhen was also called on by the Ambassador of France,
Thierry Mathou. The French Ambassador expressed his appreciation on the emerging civil societies and the successful nature of democratic transition in Bhutan.
Dr. Thierry Mathou is the French Ambassador in Myanmar and is also a leading scholar on Bhutan.
