6-Sep-2022: Raksha Mantri holds bilateral talks with his Mongolian counterpart in Ulaanbaatar

On the first day of engagements of his Mongolia visit, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with his Mongolian counterpart Lt Gen Saikhanbayar Gursed in Ulaanbaatar on September 06, 2022. He also called on the President of Mongolia and Chairman of State Great Khural. The Raksha Mantri also inaugurated a Cyber Security Training Centre, built with assistance from India, and laid the foundation stone of the India-Mongolia Friendship School, to be constructed with Indian assistance.

Bilateral talks

After reaching Mongolia on the night of September 05, 2022 to become the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the country, the hectic day of engagements began for Shri Rajnath Singh with a ceremonial guard of honour at the Ministry of Defence in Ulaanbaatar. It was followed by delegation-level talks between the Raksha Mantri and his Mongolian counterpart. They discussed effective & practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements and deliberated on regional & global issues of mutual interest.

Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust & understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy & rule of law. The two Ministers also reiterated their resolve to reinvigorate the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group (JWG), which will meet in India later this year.

Call ons

Shri Rajnath Singh called on the President of Mongolia & Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, wherein they recalled their strong bonhomie and previous interaction in 2018 when together they laid the foundation stone for the ongoing Oil Refinery project being undertaken by assistance from India. He also met the Chairman of State Great Khural of Mongolia Mr. G Zandanshatar.

Cyber Security Training Centre

Another highlight of the day was the inauguration of Cyber Security Training Centre, built with assistance from Government of India, at National Defence University in Ulaanbaatar by the Raksha Mantri. The Raksha Mantri was briefed about the facilities at the Centre by the officials. He also interacted with the personnel of the Mongolian Armed Forces being trained at the Centre.

India-Mongolia Friendship School

Shri Rajnath Singh, along with Minister of Education and Science of Mongolia, laid the foundation stone of the India-Mongolia Friendship School, which is being established with the assistance from Government of India.

It may be recalled that India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955. Mongolia has declared India as a strategic partner and “spiritual neighbour”. In 2015, “strategic partnership” between the two Asian democracies was declared during visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Defence is an important element of bilateral engagements with Mongolia.

15-Jun-2022: Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju and  President of Mongolia Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh together  pay their respects at the holy Kapilavastu relics at Gandan Monastery today

Union minister Shri Kiren Rijiju today visited Gandan monastery with President of  Mongolia Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and paid their respects to the holy Kapilavastu relics. They also paid respect to the Lord Buddha's holy relics of Mongolia which have been kept alongside  Kapilavastu relics.

On the occasion Indian Union Minister for law and Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju; the president of Mongolia Mr Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and Indian Ambassador to Mongolia Shri Mohinder Pratap Singh;   Khamba Nomun Khan  were present.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju said that India during Covid pandemic helped many countries and he is delighted to see people of Mongolia happy today. The union minister also said that along with people to people connect, the  economic relations between India and Mongolia are also taking a new shape. Shri Kiren Rijiju said “ I wish that more Indians should visit this beautiful country and  people to people connect enhances in near future"

The president of Mongolia Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh said that the special gesture of bringing holy Buddha's relics to Mongolia is the proof of level of spiritual connection between India and Mongolia. The President on behalf of people of Mongolia thanked Indian government for organizing the exposition as a great gesture towards people of Mongolia.

He also greatly appreciated that India was the first country which delivered us vaccine and helped in the Covid pandemic and due to swift help, lives of thousands of Mongolians could be saved. He said that the oil refineries being constructed by India in Mongolia is the symbol of growing bilateral relations between India and Mongolia and India is Mongolia's one of  most reliable partners and its third neighbour. The President also stated that bringing holy Relics of Lord Buddha is a great way of enriching the bilateral relations.

Later in the day, postage stamp on Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was released   by State secretary, Foreign affairs, Mongolia Mr. Ankhbayar Nyamdorj and Indian ambassador to Mongolia Shri M.P Singh in the presence of Shri Kiren Rijiju; Mr. N Enkhbayar, former President of Mongolia and Khamba Nomun Khan of Gandan Monastery.

Addressing at the stamp release event, Union Minister Shri Rijiju said that release of postage stamp in the name of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche is a defining moment for India and Mongolia in their spiritual and cultural journey together; and it will resonate not only in Mongolia but also in India.  He also added that this will go a long way in highlighting the remarkable work done by Rinpoche for Mongolia and for Strengthening  India Mongolia relations.

On the occasion Indian Ambassador to Mongolia Shri Mohinder Pratap Singh said that Bakula Rinpoche was able to put forth the profound teachings of Lord Buddha in a very simple manner.  He also said that this is rarest of the rare moment when Indi's and Mongolia's relics of Buddha are displayed together on the Buddha day.

13-May-2021: Culture Minister Sh. Prahlad Singh Patel discusses various issues under Cultural Exchange Programme with his Mongolian counterpart Ms. Chinbat Nomin

A meeting of the Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel with the Mongolian Minister of Culture, Ms. Chinbat Nomin was held today in virtual mode, to discuss various issues under Cultural Exchange Program between the two countries, and other areas of common interest.

It was reaffirmed that our strategic partnership, which was established during the historic visit of  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Mongolia in May 2015, would continue to be sustained and strengthened.

Shri Prahlad Sigh Patel said that the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) between India and Mongolia stands renewed until 2023, and that cooperation under specific areas would be discussed in detailed meetings between senior officers of the Culture Ministries of India and Mongolia.

It was also emphasized that India’s historical connect and convergence in Buddhism with Mongolia forms the basis of our deep, spiritual friendship.

Shri Patel thanked Ms. Nomin for the special prayers conducted by some of the leading monasteries in Ulaanbaatar for India during the pandemic. Ms. Nomin took the opportunity to express solidarity of Mongolia with India and Indian people in their fight against Covid pandemic.

The Indian Minister stated that to further consolidate our shared legacy, 10 dedicated ICCR scholarships for studying ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ have been allocated for Mongolians to study in specialized institutes of CIBS, Leh and CUTS, Varanasi, starting from 2020-2021.

Shri Patel reiterated India's commitment for digitization of Buddhist manuscripts in Gandan monastery and said India would consider Mongolia’s request for assistance in setting up a museum-cum-library there. He further stated that Ministry of Culture is likely to complete reprinting of about 100 sets of sacred Mongolian Kanjur (108 volumes each) by next year for distribution in the main centers of Buddhism in Mongolia.

Shri Patel explained the steps taken by Govt of India to facilitate visa and travel of Buddhist monks from Mongolia within India.

Both sides expressed deep satisfaction at the strong cultural bonds and spiritual connection that has been developed between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to take forward the mutual cooperation as soon as the situation of COVID eases in the two countries.

8-Jan-2021: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan interacts with Ministers of Mongolia

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, through video conference, today interacted with H.E Mr. L. Oyun-Erdene, MP, Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary of Mongolia and Co-Chair of the India-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation and H.E Mr. G. Yondon, Minister of Mines and Heavy Industry. Bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbons and steel sectors were comprehensively reviewed in the meetings.

Shri Pradhan conveyed deep appreciation to H.E Oyun-Erdene and H.E Yondon for their support in facilitating approvals for expeditious implementation of the greenfield Mongol Refinery Project, built under a Line of Credit from Government of India, and also for their commitment in setting up a pipeline to transport crude to the refinery being built in Sainshand.  He also sought their cooperation in completing this pipeline well before the commissioning of the Refinery project.

Shri Pradhan also welcomed the keenness of Mongolian companies in supplying coking coal to Indian steel industry and agreed to advance cooperation for mutual benefit. “We look forward to substantial partnerships with Mongolian companies in the areas of minerals, coal and steel.”, he added.

The Minister, on behalf of Government of India, reiterated India’s commitment to timely completion of the Mongol Refinery Project, the country’s 1st oil refinery. He expressed willingness to further share India’s expertise in oil and gas sector including capacity building in accordance with the developmental priorities of Mongolia.

22-Jun-2018: Mongolia begins construction of first oil refinery with Indian aid

Mongolia begins construction of its first oil refinery, a long-awaited project that is funded by India and designed to end the country’s dependence on Russian fuel.

The refinery, in southern Dornogovi province will be capable of processing 1.5 million tonnes of crude oil per year, as per Mongol Refinery, the state-owned company building the project. That is about 30,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The refinery will be small by international standards, with most Chinese facilities each processing hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude per day. Still, Mongolia’s new refinery, planned for completion in late 2022, will meet all of the nation’s demand for gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

By establishing this strategically important oil refinery, the national economy will become independent from energy imports, and fuel and commodity prices will be stabilised. The project is expected to boost Mongolia’s gross domestic product by 10 percent.

Mongolia imported almost 1.5 million tonnes of oil products last year, virtually all from Russia. They amounted to 18 percent of all Mongolia’s imports, according to official data.

Mongolia, a large landlocked country wedged between giants China and Russia, has a population of just 3 million. Almost half its people live as nomadic stock herders, and the country’s oil demand is growing only very slowly.

The cost of the refinery is estimated at $1.35 billion, and it will include a pipeline and its own power plant. The refinery will process Mongolia’s own crude oil, which is now sold to China.

Mongolia produced 7.6 million barrels of oil last year, about 21,000 bpd, amounting to 6 percent of its total export earnings. The country’s petroleum industry regulator is expecting its crude oil output to rise over the years prior to the refinery’s start-up.

A Mongolian oil refinery has been discussed since 1997, but while several projects were approved, none have been completed. The refinery’s financing is part of a $1 billion credit line agreement between Mongolia and the Export-Import Bank of India, made during a 2015 visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian guarantee is what put the odds in favour of the oil refinery being finally built, but the biggest worry here is whether the oil refinery can pay for itself.