Thinley meets vice presidents, discusses ties

KABUL): Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley, who arrived in Kabul on Sunday, met with President Hamid Karzai and his two deputies for talks over bilateral relations, a presidential statement said on Monday.

Thinley, who is also chairman of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the year, stressed the need for improved relations between the two countries during his separate meetings with the two vice presidents, Mohammad Qasim Fahim and Karim Khalili, on Monday, the statement from Presidential Palace, said.

His country wanted long-term friendly relationship with Afghanistan, the statement quoted Thinleyas saying.

Thinleyalso met with President Hamid Karzai on the first day of his three-day official visit. During his talks with Karzai, the prime minister said Bhutan evinced interest in encouraging cultural ties and increased official tours between the two countries.

Karzai lauded Bhutan’s efforts at strengthening ties between the member countries of SAARC. He termed as important joint cooperation for raising living standard of people of the two countries.

Thinley delivered sincere wishes of the Bhutan emperor to Hamid Karzai and said that they were happy over Thinley’s first visit of Afghanistan.

myn/ma

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