The leaders exchanged multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering cooperation in humanitarian aid, heritage restoration, immigration, geology and mineral resources, cooperative promotion, and digital solutions.
Photo: ANI
In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on Tuesday held delegation-level talks here, further cementing the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
The leaders exchanged multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering cooperation in humanitarian aid, heritage restoration, immigration, geology and mineral resources, cooperative promotion, and digital solutions.
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Marking the occasion, both leaders jointly released commemorative stamps celebrating the 70th anniversary of India-Mongolia bilateral relations, a milestone underscoring decades of close partnership.
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Speaking at a joint press conference, Modi announced several key initiatives to deepen ties. “India has decided to provide free e-visas to Mongolian citizens to facilitate greater people-to-people contact,” he said. “Additionally, India will sponsor the annual visit of young cultural ambassadors from Mongolia to India, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding.”
He described the India-Mongolia relationship as transcending diplomacy. “Our connection is not merely diplomatic; it is a soulful and spiritual bond rooted in shared history and values,” he stated.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s role in Mongolia’s development, particularly referencing the Oil Refinery Project—a USD 1.7 billion Line of Credit initiative that stands as India’s largest development partnership globally. “This project will bolster Mongolia’s energy security and deepen our strategic partnership,” he noted.
Emphasizing cultural and spiritual ties, Modi recalled the historic significance of Nalanda University for Buddhism in Mongolia. “We have decided to strengthen the connection between Nalanda and the Ganden Monastery in Mongolia, breathing new energy into this historic relationship,” he said.
In a gesture of goodwill, Modi announced that next year, India will send holy relics of Lord Buddha’s disciples Sariputra and Maudgalyayana to Mongolia.
Furthering educational collaboration, India will send a Sanskrit teacher to Ganden Monastery to help preserve and deepen the study of Buddhist scriptures, ensuring the ancient knowledge tradition endures.
“The true depth of our relations is reflected in our people-to-people ties,” Modi added. “For centuries, India and Mongolia have been united by the tenets of Buddhism, earning us the epithet of spiritual siblings.”
President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa expressed appreciation for India’s support and reaffirmed Mongolia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.
This high-level meeting underscores the enduring and multi-dimensional partnership between India and Mongolia, blending strategic collaboration with profound cultural and spiritual bonds.
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