praveen

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday left for a two-day visit to Bhutan during which he will seek to further boost India's "unique" ties with the Himalayan nation and address a joint session of its newly elected Parliament.

Singh's visit to Bhutan comes at a time when the country is taking steps towards democracy and celebrating 100 years of the Wangchuck dynasty and 50 years of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's month-long tour which he undertook on yakback.

It is also an year in which Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck will be coronated as the fifth King of Druk Yul or the land of the Thunder Dragon as the Bhutanese people call their motherland.

Energy cooperation is expected to dominate the talks Singh will have with Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley.

Singh, the first international leader to visit the world's "youngest democracy", will address the joint session of Bhutan's first Parliament besides announcing a substantial contribution to the country's 10th Five Year Plan.

On the eve of his visit, the prime minister said he would convey India's desire to "shape a relationship that builds upon the solid foundations of the past and responds to each other's national interests and aspirations in the 21st century."

In a statement issued yesterday, Singh noted that India has traditionally enjoyed a unique relationship with Bhutan which is rooted in close historical and cultural linkages between two friendly sovereign neighbours.