Bhutan | Thailand |
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The bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Thailand were established in 1989. Thailand is one of the only 54 nations with formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan. [1]
Established in 1989, the diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Thailand have grown stronger over the years. Both nations have many features in common. Located in Southeast Asia, both nations have a monarchy system. Both Bhutan and Thailand have Buddhist-majority populations, with a strong Buddhist heritage and culture. Bhutan has an embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. On the other hand, Thailand does not have a diplomatic mission in Bhutan; it conducts its relations via its embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh, which is accredited to the Himalayan kingdom.
In recent years, there has been a significant growth in tourism between the two nations. Bhutan and Thailand also promote cooperation in the field of education. [2] Several Thai universities, including the Prince of Songkla University and the Rangsit University, have Bhutanese students. [2] [3] Thai universities provide scholarship programs to attract Bhutanese students. [3]
In 2006, Bhutan's Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck inaugurated Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 exposition in northern Thailand to mark the 60th anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Bhutanese government developed the garden at the cost of ฿ 10 million. [4]
On November 10, 2009 the Embassy of Thailand in Dhaka launched the "Bhutan-Thailand Friendship Park" in collaboration with the city corporation of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. [5] The park was aimed to celebrate both the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the anniversary of the coronation of the fifth King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. [5] The park is to be administered by the Thimphu city corporation. [5] The inauguration function also celebrated the 54th birth anniversary of Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan and the 82nd birth anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand. [6]
Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 54 of 193 member states of the United Nations and the European Union. Bhutan's limited number of such relations, including the absence of formal relations with any of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, is part of a deliberate isolationist policy of limiting foreign influence in the state. This stance has been safeguarded by close relations with India, of which Bhutan has previously been considered a protected state.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is a member of the House of Wangchuck who was the king of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in 2006. During his reign, he advocated the use of a Gross National Happiness index to measure the well-being of citizens rather than Gross domestic product.
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the Druk Gyalpo, the monarch of the Kingdom of Bhutan. After his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne, he became the monarch on 9 December 2006. A public coronation ceremony was held on 6 November 2008, a year that marked 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.
The Wangchuck dynasty have held the hereditary position of Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan since 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire. After consolidating power, the 12th Penlop of Trongsa Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was elected Druk Gyalpo, thus founding the dynasty. The position of Druk Gyalpo – who heads the royal family of Bhutan – is more commonly known in English as the King of Bhutan, however "Druk Gyalpo" would be translated literally as "Dragon King"
Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck is a princess of Bhutan. She is the daughter of the Fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. She is half-sister of the fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Princess AshiKesang Choden Wangchuck, is a member of the royal family of Bhutan. She is a daughter of the fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, one of the former king's four wives, all of whom are sisters and held the title 'queen consort'. She is a half-sister of the current Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who became king following the abdication of his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck on 9 December 2006.
Wangchuk or Wangchuck is a given name and surname. Notable people with the name include:
Prince DashoUgyen Jigme Wangchuck is a member of the royal family of Bhutan and is the youngest of the sons of the fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and his wife, Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck.
Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or tshechus. While national holidays are observed throughout Bhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas. Bhutan uses its own calendar, a variant of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar. Because it is a lunisolar calendar, dates of some national holidays and most tshechus change from year to year. For example, the new year, Losar, generally falls between February and March.
Desi Jigme Namgyal of Bhutan is a forefather of the Wangchuck Dynasty. He served as 51st Druk Desi of Bhutan (1870–1873), and held the hereditary post of 10th Penlop of Trongsa. He was called the Black Ruler.
The wedding of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, and Jetsun Pema took place on 13 October 2011 at the Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Bhutan. The current King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, married Jetsun Pema, who became Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema Wangchuck. Both are descendants of the 48th Druk Desi of Bhutan and 10th Penlop of Trongsa, Jigme Namgyal.
Jetsun Pema is the Druk Gyaltsuen of Bhutan, as the wife of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. She is currently the youngest queen consort in the world. She and the King have three children: Jigme Namgyel, the heir apparent to the Bhutanese throne, Jigme Ugyen, and Sonam Yangden.
Princess AshiChimi Yangzom Wangchuck is a princess of Bhutan. She is the daughter of the fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck. She is a half-sister of the fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. She is eighth in the line of succession to the Bhutanese throne.
The Bhutan–Japan relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan. Diplomatic relations were established on March 28, 1986.
Ashi Phuntsho Choden was the queen consort of Bhutan, as the wife of King Jigme Wangchuck.
Lingkana Palace is the residence of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan. The palace grounds are adjacent to the Tashichho Dzong in the capital city of Thimphu.
Bhutan and the United States have no formal diplomatic relations, but relations between the two nations are viewed as "friendly and close", due to shared values between the two countries. The increasingly close relationship between India and the U.S. has also helped to improve U.S.–Bhutanese relations.
Lotay Tshering is a Bhutanese politician and surgeon who was the prime minister of Bhutan, in office from 7 November 2018 to 1 November 2023. He has also been the president of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa since 14 May 2018.
Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck is the second child of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and his wife, Queen Jetsun Pema. He is the second line to the throne after his brother Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. On 17 December 2019, it was reported that the king and queen were expecting their second child, to be born in spring 2020. On 19 March 2020, the king and queen's official Instagram accounts reported that she had given birth to her second son in Lingkana Palace in Thimphu. On 30 June 2020, the Royal Family announced that the second baby had been named Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck, and would be known as His Royal Highness Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck.