New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha will discuss bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest with Bhutan during his three day official visit to the country beginning on August 4.

Sinha, on his first visit to Bhutan as the External Affairs Minister, would call on Bhutanese Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuck and meet his counterpart Jigmi Y Thinley besides Finance Minister Yeshey Zimba to discuss bilateral issues.

He would also have an audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan, a statement of the External Affairs Ministry said.

India has an extensive co-operation and development assistance programme with Bhutan encompassing various sectors with special focus on infrastructure and the social sector.

Both sides share concern on the presence of ULFA-Bodo militants in Bhutan, the release said.

The National Assembly of Bhutan had in July 1999 passed a resolution authorising the government to engage in a dialogue to persuade the militants to leave Bhutan; cut off the supply lines of the militants and take action under the National Security Act against those found to be maintaining links with the militants.

"Both governments remain in closed consultation on how best to address this problem," it added.

Sinha would be accompanied by Meera Shankar, Joint Secretary (Nepal and Bhutan) and R Venu, director, Ministry of External Affairs.

PTI