India, Mongolia ink 10 agreements to enhance cooperation

• Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa arrived in New Delhi on October 13 on a four-day State visit marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

• Indian President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi held comprehensive and substantive discussions with President Ukhnaa and shared commitment to deepening the Strategic Partnership between India and Mongolia.

• The two sides inked 10 agreements to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as digital solutions, exploration of mineral resources and quick impact projects following the talks between the two leaders.

Strategic Partners, Spiritual Neighbours

• India and Mongolia are bound by deep-rooted civilizational and spiritual linkages, underpinned by shared values of democracy, freedom, and mutual respect. 

• As Strategic Partners, Spiritual Neighbours and Third Neighbours, India and Mongolia stand together as trusted partners in pursuing their respective developmental aspirations.

• Since the historic visit of PM Modi to Mongolia in 2015, bilateral relations between the two countries have undergone a qualitative transformation, characterised by enhanced mutual trust, expanded cooperation, and strengthened strategic convergence. 

• High-level exchanges have deepened, institutional mechanisms have been consolidated, and collaboration has broadened across the political, security, economic, and cultural domains.

• Mongolia and India place their people-centric development partnership at the core of their bilateral engagement. 

• The Mongol Oil Refinery Project, being implemented with the support of a $1.7 billion Line of Credit extended by the government of India, stands as a flagship initiative and a vital component of Mongolia’s sustainable energy strategy. 

• Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the project’s procedural facilitation, timely implementation, and long-term financial and operational sustainability, recognising its significance in enhancing Mongolia’s energy security and contributing to regional economic development.

• The two sides welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), through which India-funded initiatives will contribute to grassroots development, strengthen social infrastructure, and support Mongolia’s regional development vision.

• Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening resilient and mutually beneficial supply chains and agreed to deepen cooperation in the renewable energy sector. 

• The signing of the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Geology and Mineral Resources between the Ministry of Mines of India and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of Mongolia marks a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, paving the way for technological exchange, and the sharing of expertise. 

• In this regard, they agreed to lay the groundwork for collaboration in exporting Mongolia’s key mineral resources to the Indian market, including coking coal and copper, with a view to fostering shared industrial development and economic growth.

• Noting Mongolia’s rich livestock resources and India’s world-renowned expertise in processing wool, particularly for carpets and textiles, the two sides agreed to leverage their complementary strengths to enhance cooperation in raw material supply, processing and manufacturing, technology transfer, and human resource exchange, with the aim of jointly producing value-added wool and cashmere products for the global market.

• The Indian side affirmed that all electronic visas will be provided on a gratis basis to Mongolian nationals. The Mongolian side will also explore granting e-visas to Indian nationals.

• In the field of defence and security, India and Mongolia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and exchanges through military exercises such as ‘Nomadic Elephant’ and ‘Khaan Quest’.