Foreign relations of Bhutan 69008 225761808 2008-07-15T07:59:11Z 99.147.207.237 /* People's Republic of China */ Honorary Consul in Hong Kong and Macau, not Consulate <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 22em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><!-- start of floated right section --> <div style="border: 1px solid #ccd2d9; background: #f0f6fa; text-align: left; padding: 0.5em 1em; text-align: center;"><!-- start of slate grey box --> <big>'''Foreign Relations of<br> Bhutan'''</big> <p style="margin: 1em 0;"> [[Image:Flag of Bhutan.svg|125px|Flag of Bhutan]]<br /> </p> <table style="background: transparent; text-align: left; table-layout: auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; font-size: 100%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <th style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">Independence</th> <td style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top">[[August 8]], [[1949]]</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">Joined UN</th> <td style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top">[[September 21]], [[1971]]</td> </tr> </table> </div><!-- end of slate grey box --> </p> </div><!-- end of floated right section; article starts here --> {{Politics of Bhutan}} [[Bhutan]], being a small country, has a limited number of formal diplomatic relations. Currently, Bhutan has foreign relations with 22 other countries. In 1971, sponsored by India, Bhutan began to develop its foreign relations by joining the [[UN]], though it has no diplomatic relations with any of the permanent members on the UN Security Council. In 1981, Bhutan joined [[IMF]] and [[World Bank]], followed by the [[World Health Organisation]] and [[UNESCO]] in 1982. It is also an active member of [[SAARC]]. Bhutan is currently a member of 45 international organisations. <ref> [http://www.bhutan.gov.bt/government/abt_foreign.php Government of Bhutan - International organisations] </ref> ==India== :{{main|Suzerainty#Bhutan}} Historically, ties with India have been close. Both countries signed a Friendship treaty in [[1949]], where India would assist Bhutan in foreign relations. On [[February 8]], [[2007]], the {{PDFlink|[http://www.mea.gov.in/pressrelease/2007/03/treaty.pdf Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty]|30.6&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 31383 bytes -->}} was substantially revised under the Bhutanese King, [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]]. Whereas in the [http://mea.gov.in/treatiesagreement/1949/chap26.htm Treaty of 1949] Article 2 read as "The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations." In the revised treaty it now reads as, "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other." The revised treaty also includes in it the preamble "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element that was absent in the earlier version. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007 strengthens Bhutan's status as an independent and sovereign nation. ==People's Republic of China== Bhutan has no diplomatic relations with its northern neighbour, the [[People's Republic of China]]. The border between Bhutan and China has been closed since [[People's Liberation Army invasion of Tibet (1950–1951)|invasion of Tibet]] in [[1959]], causing an influx of refugees. The border also remains undelineated; in 1961 China published a map that altered the traditional border. Tensions have since lessened, especially after the signing of a 1998 agreement on border peace and tranquility, the first bilateral agreement between China and Bhutan. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, Bhutan has also maintained an Honorary Consul in [[Macau]] since 2000 and [[Hong Kong]] since 2004. In late 2005, Bhutan claimed that Chinese soldiers were building roads and bridges within Bhutanese territory. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk took up the matter with Chinese authorities after the issue was raised in Bhutanese parliament. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang of the People's Republic of China has said that the border remains in dispute and that the two sides continue to work for a peaceful and cordial resolution of the dispute <ref>[http://news.china.com/zh_cn/domestic/945/20051201/12906175.html China news article]</ref>; an Indian intelligence officer has also said that a Chinese delegation in Bhutan told the Bhutanese that they were overreacting. The Bhutanese newspaper ''Kuensel'' has said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border. <ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1583871,000500020006.htm Hindustan times article]</ref> ==Nepal== Since 1992, relations with Nepal have been tense due to the repatriation of refugees from Bhutan. <ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf Public domain article]</ref> ==Bangladesh== Along with India, it is one of the only two nations to have a residential embassy in Bhutan. The relationship between Bhutan and Bangladesh have always been positive since 1971 when the former became one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh after gaining independence from Pakistan. ==EU== Bhutan has diplomatic relations with [[Austria]], [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Netherlands]] and [[Sweden]]. It has non-resident diplomatic relations with the EU via its Ambassador to the UN based in [[Geneva]], though it may establish an office in [[Brussels]]. <ref>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/asia-oceania/bhutan?profile=intRelations&pg=4 British Foreign & Commonwealth Office]</ref> ==Foreign embassies and consulates in Bhutan== * {{AUT}} - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] * {{BAN}} - Embassy, [[Thimphu]] * {{CAN}} Representative Office [http://www.cco.org.bt/index.htm], [[Thimphu]] * {{DEN}} - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] * {{GER}} - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] * {{IND}} - Embassy, [[Thimphu]] ** [[India|India]] - Representative Office, [[Phuntsholing]] * {{JPN}} - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] * {{NED}} - Consulate, [[Thimphu]] * {{SWI}} - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] * {{flagicon|United Nations}} [[UN]] - Representative Office, [[Thimphu]] Source: http://www.embassypages.com/bhutan.php See also *[[Bhutanese diplomatic missions]] ==Bhutan has diplomatic relations with the following countries== *{{flag|Australia}}<br> *{{flag|Brunei}}<br> *{{flag|Bangladesh}}<br> *{{flag|Canada}}<br> *{{flag|EU}} <sup>({{flag|Austria}} {{flag|Denmark}} {{flag|Finland}} {{flag|Netherlands}} {{flag|Norway}})</sup> *{{flag|India}}<br> *{{flag|Japan}}<br> *{{flag|South Korea}}<br> *{{flag|Kuwait}}<br> *{{flag|Liechtenstein}}<br> *{{flag|Maldives}}<br> *{{flag|Nepal}}<br> *{{flag|New Zealand}}<br> *{{flag|Pakistan}}<br> *{{flag|Singapore}}<br> *{{flag|Sri Lanka}}<br> *{{flag|Sweden}}<br> *{{flag|Switzerland}}<br> *{{flag|Thailand}} The [[United States of America]] and the [[United Kingdom]] maintain informal relations with Bhutan via the embassies of the two countries in [[New Delhi]]. Only India and Bangladesh have residential embassies in Bhutan. <ref> [http://www.bhutan.gov.bt/government/abt_foreign.php Government of Bhutan - Foreign relations] </ref> ==Notes and references== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://2008.bhutan-360.com/2007/11/28/foreign-relation-of-bhutan/ Foreign Relations of Bhutan] ---- {{Bhutan ties}} {{Asia topic|Foreign relations of}} [[Category:Foreign relations of Bhutan| ]] [[Category:Foreign relations by country|Bhutan ]] [[zh:不丹外交]]