Joint Statement for
India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership on 17 May
At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Chimediin Saikhanbileg,
Prime Minister of Mongolia, His Excellency Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of
India, paid a state visit to Mongolia from 16 to 18 May, 2015.
Prime Minister Modi held
bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg.
President Ts.Elbegdorj, hosted a luncheon for Prime Minister Modi.
During his meeting with Speaker Z.Enkhbold, Prime
Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation for
according him the privilege to address the State Great Hural
of Mongolia.
A New Chapter
The two Prime Ministers underscored the
significance of the visit in the backdrop of the 60thanniversary of
diplomatic relations between Mongolia and India. It is the first ever visit by
an Indian Prime Minister marking the dawn of a new era in Mongolia-India relations.
They further noted with satisfaction the continued
development of bilateral relations in the framework of a comprehensive
partnership based on deep civilizational, historical, spiritual and cultural
linkages, common democratic traditions and shared desire for regional as well
as international peace and stability.
Given the shared desire to remain trusted partners,
the two Prime Ministers pledged to further consolidate India-Mongolia
comprehensive partnership, and agreed to elevate the level of the comprehensive
partnership to a Strategic Partnership that is conducive to the common cause of
the international community for peace and prosperity, and aligned with the
collective interests of our two countries and our peoples.
Future directions and objectives
The two Prime Ministers confirmed that developing a
Strategic Partnership, which is guided by the universally recognized principles
of sovereign equality of states, the principles of the United Nations Charter,
collective interests of our peoples and the fundamental ideals of the Treaty of
Friendly Relations and Cooperation between Republic of India and Mongolia,
signed on February 22, 1994, and other bilateral documents, would be their
common yet a new objective of their respective foreign policies. In line with
this policy the two sides reached the following understanding:
Political and Security Partnership
(1) The two Prime
Ministers noted with satisfaction the increased high-level exchanges between
the two countries in recent years and how these exchanges have significantly
reinforced the momentum for cooperation between the two countries.
The two Prime Ministers acknowledged the importance
to maintain the frequency of reciprocal visits, and agreed to further promote
the exchanges of visits at all levels, namely between the government leaders,
ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials and regular political dialogue
on the sidelines of multilateral events.
(2) The two Prime
Ministers agreed to further encourage institutional linkages, including parliamentary
as well as governmental interactions, to hold regular dialogue on bilateral
relations, other regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern
through existing mechanisms such as the Joint Committee on Cooperation between
the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Mongolia, policy
consultations between the two Foreign Ministries and all other channels of
communication.
The next meeting of the Joint Committee on
Cooperation will be held in Ulaanbaatar in 2015 at a mutually convenient time.
(3) India and Mongolia support the evolution of
open, balanced and inclusive security architecture in the Asia Pacific region
based on collective efforts, considering legitimate interests of all states of
the region guided by respect for norms and principles of international law. The
two Prime Ministers reiterated their readiness to strengthen regional as well
as multilateral cooperation, including through enhanced interaction in the UN
and other regional and international organizations.
(4) The two Prime Ministers stressed the urgent
need for reform of United Nations Security Council by expanding in both
permanent and non-permanent categories to reflect contemporary realities and
make it more representative and effective in dealing with emerging challenges.
They underscored that the year 2015, being 70th Anniversary Year of the United
Nations, provided a historic opportunityto push for
concrete outcomes on the unanimous call for "early reforms” of UNSC made
collectively by all Heads of States and Governments in 2005.
The Government of Mongolia reiterated its support
to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UNSC when the expansion
takes place. The Government of India expressed its appreciation to the
Government of Mongolia for its expression of support. India and Mongolia have
also agreed to offer reciprocal support for their bids for a non-permanent seat
in the UNSC for the terms 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 respectively.
The Government of India also confirmed its support
to Mongolia’s candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the terms 2016-2018.
(5) Both Prime Ministers noted that the nature and
spread of international terrorism in recent years poses a threat to all
humanity and requires global resolve and cooperative measures of the
international community without double standards or selectivity. They agreed to
direct concerned officials to work together for the adoption of the
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The Prime Ministers
expressed hope that all safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists will be
wiped out without delay.
(6) The two Prime
Ministers recognized their shared interests in security of cyber domain, and
decided to work with each other to preserve the integrity and inviolability of
this global common.
Defence & Security Cooperation
(7) The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue to
work towards further intensifying bilateral defense
and security cooperation through exchanges of high and mid-level visits,
regular consultations and dialogue between the Ministries of Defense and other relevant organizations, including the
National Security Councils, military personnel exchanges, capacity building,
technical cooperation, specialized vocational training, joint exercises in
Special Forces and information security, collaboration in UN as well as to
other international peacekeeping operations.
The two Prime Ministers welcomed the cooperation
between the border security guards of both the countries. Mutual sharing of the
experiences between Mongolian and Indian border forces will further strengthen
the bilateral defence and security cooperation.
Mongolia and India have been cooperating with each
other in the area of cyber security domain. Mongolian Prime Minister expressed
his appreciation to India’s support to set up a cyber
security centre in Mongolia.
Economic Cooperation
(8) The two Prime Ministers agreed to encourage
development of equal and mutually beneficial trade, investment and economic
cooperation, which is balanced, sustainable, and leads to prosperity in both
countries.
(9) India will continue to support Mongolia’s endeavor to create a business friendly foreign investment
regime.
(10) The two Prime Ministers agreed to encourage
Indian companies to further explore cooperation opportunities in Mongolia’s
mining sector through joint ventures and investment.
(11)Recalling the Memorandum of Understanding
signed in 2009 between the Department of Atomic Energy of India and the Nuclear
Energy Agency of Mongolia for cooperation in the field of Peaceful Use of
Radioactive Minerals and Nuclear Energy, the two Prime Ministers noted the
intensified cooperation in civil nuclear domain, such as societal and
industrial applications of radioisotopes, exploration and mining of radioactive
minerals in Mongolia, and human resource development.
(12) Prime Minister of India welcomed Mongolia to
partner in India’s economic transformation and noted that Mongolia’s rich
mineral deposits, including radioactive minerals, could help power India’s
low-carbon growth, while helping Mongolia in developing indigenous capabilities
and economic opportunities in the mining sector. The two Prime Ministers asked
the Joint Working Group established between their atomic energy establishments
to explore opportunities for future collaborative actions in the spirit of
mutual benefit.
(13) Given the immense potential to collaborate in
the agriculture sector, the two Prime Ministers encouraged fostering deeper and
closer cooperation in animal husbandry, production of dairy products, sharing
of expertise and know-how, technology transfer and other forms of cooperation.
Health Sector Cooperation
(14) The two Prime Ministers noted the potential
and their common desire to strengthen cooperation in the health sector and that
future cooperation would serve their collective interest and contribute to the
social development of the people of both countries.
The Mongolian Prime Minister thanked India for its
support for the development of peaceful use of nuclear energy in Mongolia, and
appreciated the gesture of providing Bhabhatron-II tele-therapy unit and a Radiotherapy Simulator, designed,
developed and manufactured in India to the National Cancer Center
of Mongolia.
Scientific, Cultural and
People to People contacts
(15) The two Prime Ministers agreed to promote
continued cooperation in the scientific, educational and IT sectors by
developing mechanisms for capacity building, collaborative research, technical
cooperation, exchange of information and experience sharing.
(16) The two Prime Ministers acknowledged that the
richness of the relationship between Mongolia and India is a result of the
long-standing people to people contacts, and shared the view to further promote
greater awareness and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two
countries, through enhancing education and cultural cooperation, better
utilization of current scholarships
under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
scholarship program with a viewpoint of increasing the number of
student scholarships in the future.
(17) The two Prime
Ministers agreed to offer up to 5 scholarships each year to the students upon
the request of the other Party for learning Mongolian and Hindi languages,
Mongolian and Indian culture in their academic institutions.
(18)The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction
the decision to set up Mongolia-India Joint School in Ulaanbaatar. They also
welcomed the selection of a Project Management Consultant for the utilization
of US$20 million line of credit to expand the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre for Excellence in Information
Technology and Communication in Ulaanbaatar to include an Outsourcing Centre.
The expanded Centre will be renamed as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre for Excellence in Information
Technology & Communication and Outsourcing.
(19) The two Prime Ministers agreed to look into a
possibility to ease travel between the two countries by exploring direct air
links between Mongolia and India to facilitate greater people to people
interactions as well as ways to simplify the existing visa conditions.
Mongolian side conveyed its appreciation for India’s decision to extend
e-Tourist Visa (eTV)
facility to its nationals.
(20) In order to highlight each other’s cultural
and spiritual heritage, both Prime Ministers agreed to encourage exchanges of
films, electronic and print media, performing and fine arts, museums and other
related areas of cultural expression and to support mutual establishing of
cultural centers.
(21) The two Prime Ministers noted the shared
ancient cultural, spiritual and civilizational ties and enduring goodwill
between their people. The Mongolian side appreciated the gesture of India, to
present a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree. India
agreed to positively consider the request of Mongolia for providing Buddha
statue to the Gandan Tegchenling
Monastery, as a symbol of an enduring tradition of spiritual bonding between
the peoples of the two countries.
(22) To rediscover the shared cultural heritage,
both Prime Ministers agreed to initiate a joint translation project of
"Holy Tripitaka” into Mongolian language.
Laying Down Frameworks for Future Cooperation
The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of
the following bilateral documents:
1. Air Services Agreement between the Government of
the Republic of India and the Government of Mongolia
2. Treaty between the Government of the Republic of
India and the Government of Mongolia on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons
3. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of
India Government of Mongolia on Cooperation in the Field of Animal Health and
Dairy
4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government
of the Republic of India and the Government of Mongolia on Cooperation in the
Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy
5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Republic of India and the Government of Mongolia and
on Establishment of Cyber Security Training Centre in the Ministry of Defence
of Mongolia
6. Memorandum of Understanding betweenthe
Government
of Republic of India andthe Government of MongoliaonEstablishment of India-Mongolia Joint Friendship School in Mongolia
7. Programme on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and theGovernment of Mongolia in the field of Culture for the Years 2015-2018
8. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the National Security Council of the Republic of Indiaand the National Security Council of Mongolia
9. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation
between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia
10. Memorandum of Understanding between the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Republic of India and the Ministry
of Energy of Mongolia
11. Memorandum of Understanding between the
Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Justice
of Mongolia for enhancing
co-operation in Border Guarding, Policing and Surveillance
12. Memorandum of Understanding between the Tata
Memorial Centre of India and the National Cancer Center
of Mongolia for Gifting of Bhabhatron-II Tele-therapy
Unit along with a Radiotherapy Simulator
13. Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign
Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India
and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia
Looking forward
The two Prime Ministers agreed to take the
opportunity of the 60thanniversary of diplomatic relations in 2015
to organize joint cultural activities in their respective countries.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to work closely on
issues discussed and agreed on during the official talks between Prime Minister
Modi and Mongolian leadership through existing
bilateral mechanisms and all other means of interaction to ensure concrete
outcomes of bilateral cooperation in the years to come.
The State Visit of the Prime Minister of India has
consolidated the longstanding, cordial and cooperative ties between Mongolia
and India, and contributed greatly to further developing the newly established
bilateral partnership.