The Global Times (October 13) reported that the Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong,
arrived in Bhutan on October 10 on a 3-day visit. It claimed the visit signified "a step forward
in friendly relations and indicates boundary talks between the two countries have been moving
in a friendly direction since they signed the MoU in 2021". During his visit from October 10
and 13, Sun Weidong met Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister
of Bhutan Lotay Tshering, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji and others. Global Times said Sun
Weidong had noted: "China attaches great importance to China-Bhutan relations and will, as
always, respect Bhutan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the
development path chosen by Bhutan according to its own national conditions." It added that,
according to the Chinese Ambassador he was told "Bhutan will continue to adhere to the one-
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China principle and is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China, solve boundary
issues through friendly consultation and advance the development of the two countries'
relations". It observed too that "China and Bhutan signed the MoU in October 2021 in a bid to
speed up boundary talks that had been delayed."
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