13-Feb-2023: 11th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting
The 11th meeting of India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held on 10th February 2023 in New Delhi. Both sides reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and identified means to further enhance the existing areas of cooperation and articulated steps in this direction. During the meeting, both the sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defense cooperation between the two countries despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19 pandemic.
India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955. The Indian Resident Mission in Ulaanbaatar was opened in 1971. This relationship was upgraded to “strategic partnership” in 2015 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mongolia and declared it as an essential component of ‘Act East Policy’.
India-Mongolia
International Cooperation:
- Mongolia supports India’s membership to the permanent seat of the expanded UNSC. India played an important role in getting Mongolia membership to key international forums.
- Mongolia co-sponsored a 1972 UN resolution with India and Bhutan for the recognition of Bangladesh.
Economic Cooperation:
- Bilateral trade was USD 35.3 million in 2020.
- India-built oil refinery near Sainshand in southern Dornogovi province.
Cultural Cooperation:
- Agreement on Cultural Cooperation signed in 1961.
- Co-operation in education by way of scholarships, exchange of experts, etc.
Defence Cooperation:
- Joint defence exercises code-named Nomadic Elephant
- India is an active participant in Khaan Quest
Cooperation over Environmental Issues: Part of the Bishkek Declaration (snow leopard)
Key Facts Related to Mongolia:
- Landlocked country in East and Central Asia.
- Bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west.
- Second-largest landlocked country and most sparsely populated country in the world.
- Majority of the population still practices traditional nomadic herding.
- Home to a variety of ethnic groups, including Mongols, Kazakhs, and Tuvans.
- Known as the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky" and as the "Land of the Horse".
- Landscape dominated by the Gobi Desert in the south and the Altai Mountains in the west.
- Rapid modernization in recent years.
- Ulaanbaatar retains a strong traditional Mongolian identity.
- Once the center of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history.
4-Feb-2023: India handed-over 100 nautical charts to Kenya
India hands over 100 nautical charts to Kenya
- Result of collaborative survey by navies of both countries
- Survey conducted by Indian Navy's National Hydrography Office
Kenya
- Location in East Africa. Its terrain rises from low coastal plain to mountains and plateaus.
- Diverse culture with many ethnic groups and languages
- It is the possible birthplace of humans. Bones of earliest human ancestors were found in Turkana Basin.
- Lake Turkana is world's largest desert lake. A part of Omo-Turkana basin stretching into 4 countries.
- UN-Habitat headquarters is in Nairobi.
India's Relations with Kenya
- Historical linkages rooted in spice trade
- Kenya significant stakeholder in geopolitics of Western Indian Ocean
- Kenya active member of African Union
- Indian descent recognized as 44th tribe in Kenya
- 14 Kenyan personnel trained in hydrography in India under ITEC
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)
- Capacity building platform of Ministry of External Affairs, India
- Instituted in 1964
- Trained over 200,000 officials from 160+ countries
- Offers nearly 10,000 fully-funded in-person training opportunities each year
- Nearly 400 courses offered at 100+ eminent institutes in India
- Includes training in civilian and defence sectors.
27-Jan-2023: India-Egypt Relations
On the occasion of the 74th Republic Day, the President of Egypt was invited as the chief guest at the parade, this is the first time that an Egyptian President has been accorded this honour.
Significance:
- 2023 meeting elevates bilateral relationship to strategic partnership
- Partnership elements: political, defence, and security; economic engagement; scientific and academic collaboration; cultural and people-to-people contacts
- MOU signed for exchange of programmes between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt
- India views Egypt as moderate Islamic voice and partner in OIC
- Concerns about spread of terrorism and cross-border terrorism are dealt with
- Defence and security cooperation deepening
- Joint special forces exercise underway
- India allowing wheat shipments to Egypt despite restrictions
- Egypt seeking Indian investments in infrastructure
- Over 50 Indian companies invested over USD 3.15 billion in Egypt.China's bilateral trade with Egypt double that of India's.
- Egypt occupies crucial geo-strategic location and is a major market and gateway for India
- Bilateral trade pacts with West Asian and African nations a cause of concern for India.
Past history:
- Historical contacts since Emperor Ashoka
- Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared goal of independence from British rule
- Diplomatic relations established in 1947, friendship treaty signed in 1955
- Non-Aligned Movement established in 1961
- Joint statement in 2016 identified new partnership based on political-security cooperation, economic engagement, scientific collaboration, and cultural ties
- Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture established in Cairo in 1992