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The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted the Ambassador of Mongolia, Gonchig Ganbold on 26 June 2019. Dr Arvind Gupta delivered the welcome remarks. In his remarks, he emphasized the cultural and historical linkages between both sides.

The Ambassador delivered his opening remarks in the Hindi language and stated that his acquaintance with India goes back to 1980s. India and Mongolia have concluded the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation in 1994, the Treaty on Comprehensive Partnership in 2008 and Treaty on Strategic Partnership in 2015. The centuries-old ties have grown into ‘Strategic Partnership’. In his speech, he mentioned that despite the geographical distance both India and Mongolia have historical, religious and cultural linkages. Mongolia considers India as its ‘Spiritual Third Neighbour’. Referring to the historical and cultural linkages he explained, Buddhism prevailed in Mongolia since the 5th century. He highlighted the historical linkages and stated that 13th century Mongolian Manuscript refers to India as Hindu or Hindustan and the Indus River as Sindhi or a New river. The manuscript has been translated in India at Aligarh Muslim University in 1959. He stated there are areas and towns with thought-provoking names such as Mangolpuri, Mongolbad, Mangolor in India and with common cultural and intellectual legacies. He expounded on the economy of Mongolia and said that agriculture and livestock are an important component of Mongolian Economy. Additionally, Mongolia has liberalised 90 per cent of its economy.

Amb. Ganbold mentioned the series of visits that have taken place from India to Mongolia. PM Modi visited Mongolia in 2015 to mark the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia. During his visit, 13 agreements were signed. PM Modi promised to build a Line of Credit of USD 1 billion from India to Mongolia. The former Home Minister of India Mr. Rajnath Singh also visited Mongolia. As a result of series of visits, both sides have agreed to set up areas such as air connectivity, energy security, mining traditional medicine, animal husbandry and trade and economy.

On the issue of Foreign Policy, the Ambassador highlighted the similarities between the two countries. India and Mongolia are part of the Non-Aligned Movement, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). Mongolia took part in the First Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi in March 1947. Amb. Ganbold particularly praised the Indian initiative of supporting Mongolia’s candidature in the United Nation. He mentioned that India should assists further in training of Mongolian students and personnel. However, it would be important that both sides should exert efforts in mutual recognition of their diploma, degree of those studied in India for years. In his speech he proposed for high joint production of movies, establishing of friendship society, and friends group of parliamentarian s of India.
His speech was followed by a discussion. The salient points of discussion are as follows:-

• There should be more cooperation in the field of Wool and Dairy sector.
• More interaction was needed between the two sides in the field of pharmaceuticals and space cooperation.
• The Air connectivity between the two sides should be fastened.
• The number of Mongolian Army officers trained in India should be increased.
• Mongolia was trying to get the benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative without getting trap in the Debt Trap. Although it is on the high risk of getting trap in the Debt trap.

Click here to read full speech of Ambassador G. GANBOLD