How are India and Mongolia set to enhance strategic ties next week?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mongolian President Khurelsukh's visit to India aims to enhance bilateral ties.
- Key events include a business forum and cultural exhibitions.
- The 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations will be celebrated.
- Collaboration will cover various sectors, including defense and economy.
- India and Mongolia share deep cultural and spiritual links.
Ulaanbaatar/New Delhi, Oct 11 (NationPress) A Mongolian-Indian business forum, along with a concert titled Beautiful Homeland of Mongolia, and exhibitions showcasing paintings and Morin Khuur will take place next week as part of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa's State Visit to India from October 13-16, as confirmed by his office in Ulaanbaatar on Saturday.
India and Mongolia, as spiritual neighbors and strategic allies, are poised to strengthen their historic ties.
The upcoming events are anticipated to significantly enhance India's enduring historical and cultural connections with the resource-abundant Mongolia. These relations have been on a positive trajectory since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to Ulaanbaatar in May 2015, when the partnership between the two nations was elevated to a 'strategic partnership' and recognized as a vital aspect of India's 'Act East Policy'.
A high-ranking delegation, including Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, business leaders, and cultural representatives, will accompany President Khurelsukh during this State Visit, which is being made at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu.
This visit marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. President Khurelsukh is scheduled to have discussions with President Droupadi Murmu and engage in formal talks with Prime Minister Modi to broaden and advance the 'Strategic Partnership' and cooperation between both countries, while also exchanging views on numerous regional and global issues, according to a statement from the Mongolian President's Office. This will be Khurelsukh Ukhnaa's inaugural visit to India as Mongolia's Head of State.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicated that President Murmu will meet with Khurelsukh and host a banquet in his honor. The visiting President will also discuss various bilateral relations with Prime Minister Modi. Key figures such as Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are expected to pay their respects to the visiting dignitary.
Diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia were initiated in 1955. Over the past seventy years, these countries have cultivated a close and multifaceted partnership founded on shared cultural and spiritual connections, as well as democratic values. Their collaboration spans various sectors, including defense and security, parliamentary exchanges, development partnerships, energy, mining, information technology, education, healthcare, and cultural cooperation, as noted by the MEA.
India and Mongolia are recognized as Strategic Partners, Spiritual Neighbors, and Third Neighbors. The upcoming State Visit is a prime opportunity for the leaders of both nations to assess the progress of their bilateral relations, outline their vision for enhancing the strategic partnership, and discuss regional and global matters of shared interest.
On September 24, during an official visit to Mongolia, MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran visited the oil refinery project at Altanshiree, located in Dornogovi Province, which is being developed with a US$1.7 billion soft Line of Credit (LoC) from the Indian government, marking it as India's largest soft LoC project globally.
Mongolia's Ambassador to India, Ganbold Dambajav, recently praised PM Modi's leadership and India's rising status on the global stage. He remarked, 'He is one of the most popular politicians in the world due to his achievements since he became Prime Minister in 2014.'
Dambajav highlighted the numerous initiatives launched during Modi's tenure that have significantly improved the quality of life for Indian citizens and fostered business growth. He expressed hope that under Modi's vision, India will soon become the world's third-largest economy.
The Ambassador also recalled PM Modi's historic visit to Mongolia in 2015, during which he addressed the Mongolian parliament in a special session, an honor rarely bestowed upon foreign leaders.
In 2025, India and Mongolia will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
Highlighting the extensive cooperation between the two nations across various sectors, Dambajav stated, 'Our bilateral relations date back centuries...' He emphasized that the strategic partnership established in 2015 opened up vast opportunities for collaboration in politics, defense, economy, health, education, and IT. He noted, 'For many Mongolians, India represents the land of Lord Buddha.' Thus, numerous Mongolians visit India for worship or pilgrimage, and many monks study Buddhism in India.
He also mentioned that numerous Mongolian students study in India through scholarships from the ICCR or participate in high-tech training programs. 'Economic cooperation is a vital engine of our bilateral relations.' He expressed optimism about the oil refinery project, which is currently under construction and expected to be fully operational by 2027, providing up to 70% of Mongolia's domestic petroleum needs, with potential to increase to 100% in the future.