Bhutan PM Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley (right) with Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasinghdeb of Puri at the Buddha temple in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 8: Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley today said the improving relations between India and China were a good sign for regional development and his country would be happy to play a role in further strengthening the bond between the two Asian neighbours.

Fielding questions from mediapersons after the 115th annual general meeting of the Maha Bodhi Society of India (MBSI), Thinley said: “Continuous interactions of ministers and diplomats between India and China is a clear indication of improved bilateral ties. If needed, Bhutan is ready to play a positive role in this area.”

The Bhutanese Prime Minister said there had been a time when disturbing elements from India had been taking shelter in the bordering areas of Bhutan but the problem had been tackled with strict vigil and monitoring by his country’s security forces. “This can also be a lesson for others. Bhutan follows the policy of peaceful co-existence with its neighbours.”

Referring to regional peace and harmony, Thinley gave details of his visit to the Buddhist sites around the city and said the sight of the Ashokan rock edict at Dhauli was a “soul nourishing” experience. “I am overwhelmed by the Buddhist historical sites and have realised how the Kalinga War changed the Chandashoka to Dharmashoka and the teachings of Buddha subsequently reached faraway lands such as Bhutan with the efforts of the people of Kalinga and its rulers.”

He also expressed his happiness at seeing World Heritage Site, the Sun Temple at Konark, and the way the Archaeological Survey of India was preserving the heritage monument.

He said the MBSI would work in future towards conserving more heritage monuments in the state. The Bhutanese PM is also president of the MBSI. “The cordiality bestowed upon us in the city also reflects the mutual, reciprocating ties between the two nations and our visit to the land of Kalinga has been eventful.” Thinley today attended a felicitation ceremony at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) where he received the KISS Humanitarian Award, 2012.

On a lighter note, regarding his reception at Raj Bhavan, he said his meeting famous actor Vaijayantimala Bali was a “good experience” and Bali was “as beautiful as she was earlier”.

Before attending the annual general meeting of the MBSI, the Bhutanese PM and Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasinghdeb of Puri dedicated a temple on the first floor of the present building of the MBSI in the city. The temple also included unveiling of a new statue of 5.5 feet height of Guru Rinpoche, also known as Guru Padmasambhava (lotus-born). The statue came as a gift from Bhutan to Odisha. Thinley will attend the 8th annual convocation of KIIT University tomorrow in the morning and in the afternoon will have a special darshan of the rare Buddha relic at the State Museum.

This will be the second such occasion of the special display of the rare Buddha relic for a foreign dignitary. A display was organised for Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2005.

The rare relic is under the custody of the ASI, Bhubaneswar circle. The State Museum is shortly going to ready a huge gallery for the permanent display of the “tooth” relic. However, in future the relic will be shifted to a site museum exclusively built for the sacred relic at Lalitgiri in Jajpur district. The relic was excavated in 1985.