Bhutan is China’s southwestern neighbor. It shares similar languages, customs and cultures with China’s Tibet region, and has a long history of interaction with China.

China and Bhutan have not established diplomatic relations yet, but have maintained friendly exchanges. In 1971, Bhutan voted in favor of restoring China’s lawful seat in the United Nations. In 1974, Bhutan invited Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in India Ma Muming to attend the coronation ceremony of the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Since 1979, leaders of the two countries have exchanged congratulatory messages on each other’s national day every year. Since 1994, Chinese Ambassadors to India have all paid working visits to Bhutan and exchanged views with the Kings and Foreign Ministers of Bhutan on bilateral relations. In recent years, bilateral exchanges in political, economic, trade, cultural and educational fields have gradually increased and relations have further developed.

China and Bhutan have maintained sound cooperation at international fora. Bhutan has consistently supported China in thwarting anti-China and Taiwan-related proposals at the UN Human Rights Council sessions and the World Health Assembly.

The boundary between China and Bhutan has not been formally demarcated. Since 1984, China and Bhutan have held boundary talks alternately in Beijing and Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. In 1998, the two countries signed the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity in the China-Bhutan Border Areas during the 12th round of Boundary Talks. This is the first intergovernmental agreement between the two countries and is of great significance for maintaining stability in the border areas between the two countries. In 2021, China and Bhutan signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the “Three-Step Road Map” for accelerating China-Bhutan Boundary Negotiations in Beijing and Thimphu via video link, which is of great significance for accelerating the negotiations on boundary demarcation and advancing the process of establishing China-Bhutan diplomatic relations.

As of May 2023, the two sides had held 24 rounds of boundary talks and 12 Expert Group Meetings on the Boundary Question. Both sides are committed to an early settlement of the boundary question.