From July 22 to 24, 2018, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou visited Bhutan. During his stay in Bhutan, Kong Xuanyou paid courtesy calls on the 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan, and held talks with Foreign Minister Lyonpo Damcho Dorji of Bhutan. H.E. Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to India, accompanied Kong Xuanyou during the visit.

Kong Xuanyou conveyed the warm regards of Chinese leaders to Bhutanese leaders, and expressed that the China-Bhutan relations have maintained a sound development momentum in recent years, with exchanges and cooperation in all fields achieving new progress. China highly values its traditional friendly relations with Bhutan, and will as always respect Bhutan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect the political system and development path chosen by Bhutan based on its own national conditions, and respect the independent foreign policy of peace upheld by Bhutan. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Bhutanese side to maintain high-level contacts, expand practical cooperation, and strengthen multilateral communication and coordination, so as to achieve common development on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results. The Chinese side welcomes Bhutan to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and share China's development dividend. Both sides should continue to promote the boundary negotiations, abide by the already-reached principles and consensus, and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in boarder areas so as to create positive conditions for the final settlement of the boundary issue.

The Kings and government leaders of Bhutan asked Kong Xuanyou to convey their sincere greetings and lofty respects to Chinese leaders. The Bhutanese side expressed that although China and Bhutan have not formally established diplomatic relations, the two countries have enjoyed a traditional friendship which could be regarded as a model between big countries and small countries. The Bhutanese side admires the development achievements of China and welcomes the positive outcomes of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The Bhutanese side praises China's contributions to world peace, prosperity, and development, and is glad to see China playing a greater role in the international arena. Bhutan firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to deepening exchanges and cooperation with China, and stands ready to maintain communication with the Chinese side on bilateral relations and the boundary issue.

Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.