PM leaves for Japan

25 August: Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley left for Japan today on the invitation of the Japan junior chamber of commerce.

During his visit from August 27 to September 3, Lyonchhoen will deliver a keynote address on Gross National Happiness at *****uoka and hold high-level meetings with Japanese captains of industry and commerce.

The prime minister will also visit Tokyo and meet with the president of Japan international cooperation agency (JICA), Sadako Ogata, and also attend functions organised by the Japan-Bhutan friendship association and the parliamentary group for Bhutan.

A press release from the foreign ministry stated that Lyonchhoen’s visit is expected to open new business opportunities and further strengthen the existing close ties of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Bhutan.

Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, who is scheduled to return to Bhutan on September 9, is accompanied by Dasho Tashi Phuntshog, cabinet secretary, Topgyal Dorji, president of Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry, senior officials from the ministry of foreign affairs and members of the PM’s office.

Meanwhile, the ambassador of Thailand to Bhutan, Chalermpol Thanchitt, presented a cheque of USD 20,000 to the foreign minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, yesterday afternoon, from the government of Thailand to be used towards rehabilitation efforts for damages incurred by cyclone Aila in May this year.

source: kuensel