Defense: India inks defence cooperation pact with Mongolia

New Delhi, July 28, IRNA -- Giving a fillip to its ties with Mongolia, India today signed a defence cooperation agreement with the northeast Asian country and announced that it would extend a USD 20 million Line of Credit for a joint IT, education and outsourcing centre to be set up at Ulaanbaatar.

India and Mongolia also inked two pacts on media exchanges and cooperation between their planning commissions in the presence of President Pratibha Patil, who is in Mongolia on a three-day visit, pti reported.

Patil is the first Indian President to visit Mongolia in 23 years.

After her half-an-hour restricted talks with this country's leadership, Patil said her parleys with President Tsakhia Elbegdorj were held in a warm, friendly and cordial atmosphere.

'My visit seeks to strengthen our relationship, building upon the momentum generated by the visit of President Elbegdorj to India in September 2009, when our ties were expanded to a comprehensive partnership,' she said.

'We have signed an agreement of cooperation between the Planning Commission of India and its Mongolian counterpart.

There is considerable expertise on plan formulation and implementation in India. We look forward to sharing our experience in this area with Mongolia,' Patil said.
A bilateral defence cooperation agreement was also signed, she said. '...India is willing and ready to expand collaboration in this sphere.'

Besides, she said that New Delhi will extend a Line of Credit of USD 20 million for the 'India–Mongolia Joint Information Technology, Education and Outsourcing Centre' to be established.
The two countries also discussed ways to further cooperation in the peaceful use of radioactive minerals and nuclear energy.

'We also agreed to explore the possibilities of improving air connectivity between our two countries so as to enhance contacts between our peoples, including through tourism,' Patil said.
With an MoU on media exchanges signed between the two governments, 'we can now hope to see more media persons from Mongolia in India. We will also send more Indian journalists here,' she said.

The agreements were signed in a grand hall at the National Assembly.
Extending her support to Mongolia 'in any way,' she thanked the country for backing India's bid for the permanent membership of an expanded United Nations Security Council.
India and Mongolia are good trading partners. India exports pharma products, veterinary medicines, automobiles and their parts to this country and the bilateral trade has touched USD 16.9 million.