New Delhi [India], October 14 (ANI): India and Mongolia on Tuesday took a significant step to strengthen their cultural and developmental partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing free e-visas for Mongolian citizens and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cultural and people-to-people ties.
During a joint press statement with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa in New Delhi, PM Modi said the MoU between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Mongolia’s Arkhangai Province would give a “fresh boost” to cultural relations between the two nations. He also announced an annual sponsored visit for young Mongolian cultural ambassadors to India.
“The MoU signed today between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Mongolia’s Arkhangai Province will give a fresh boost to our cultural ties… Even though we do not share a border, India has always considered Mongolia a close neighbour. We will continue to strengthen people-to-people ties. We have decided to provide free e-visas to Mongolian citizens. And we will sponsor the annual visit of young cultural ambassadors from Mongolia to India,” PM Modi said.
The MoU aims to deepen historical and civilisational linkages, particularly through shared Buddhist heritage and cultural exchanges between Ladakh and Arkhangai. PM Modi also highlighted India’s ongoing development support in Mongolia, notably the Oil Refinery Project, backed by India’s USD 1.7 billion line of credit, which is India’s largest development partnership project globally. The refinery in Sainshand, Dornogovi Province, is expected to meet around 70 per cent of Mongolia’s domestic fuel demand, reducing reliance on imports.
In addition, PM Modi underlined advancements in skill development and education, citing the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence for IT and the India-Mongolia Friendship School, aimed at empowering Mongolian youth. He also announced projects in healthcare, renewable energy, and community development to improve livelihoods, keeping ordinary Mongolians’ needs at the forefront.
“I am happy that our private sector is also exploring new possibilities of cooperation in areas such as energy, critical minerals, rare earths, digital, mining, agriculture, dairy, and cooperatives,” PM Modi added.
President Ukhnaa announced that the Mongolian Air Carrier is preparing to operate charter flights to New Delhi and Amritsar later this year, expected to boost tourism and business sectors. He also invited PM Modi for a state visit to Mongolia, highlighting the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
PM Modi expressed delight at hosting President Ukhnaa after a six-year gap, marking 70 years of political ties and 10 years of strategic partnership between India and Mongolia. The occasion also saw the launch of a joint commemorative poster stamp.
President Ukhnaa arrived in Delhi on Monday for a four-day state visit. (ANI)
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