Organization of 12th meeting of India-Mongolia Joint Working Group

The 12th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) between the Defense Ministries of India and Mongolia was held on 16-17 May, 2024 in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

Highlights of the 12th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group

• Shri Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary, Indian Ministry of Defense and Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj, State Secretary, Ministry of Defense of Mongolia co-chaired the meeting.
• India’s Ambassador to Mongolia Shri Atul Malhari Gotsurve also attended the meeting.
• During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress of bilateral defense cooperation activities.
• The two countries also discussed issues to further enhance cooperation in the areas.
• Both sides also exchanged views on the geopolitical situation.
• Both sides also attached importance to the growing relations between India and Mongolia.

Note: The 11th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held today on 10 February 2023 in New Delhi.

India-Mongolia relations

Historical connection

• India has old historical, cultural and civilizational relations with Mongolia.
• Mongolia considers India as its third neighboring country.
• Both countries consider each other as ‘spiritual neighbours’.
• In modern times, values like democracy, freedom and market economy bring the two countries closer.

Diplomatic relations

• India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in the year 1955.
• The Indian Resident Mission in Ulaanbaatar was opened in the year 1971.
• The partnership was upgraded to a “Strategic Partnership” in 2015, when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Mongolia and declared Mongolia an essential component of the ‘Act East Policy’.

Economic and trade relations

• Economic cooperation is an important dimension between the two countries. India is one of the major trading partners of Mongolia. Both countries have increased cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, mining, tourism, education and training.

Defense cooperation

• The 15th edition of the joint defense exercise “Nomadic Elephant – 2023” between India and Mongolia was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from July 17 to July 31, 2023.

About mongolia

• Mongolia is a landlocked country located in East-Central Asia.
• It is surrounded by Russia in the north and China in the south, east and west.
• It is the second largest landlocked country in the world.
• The country is known as “the land of the endless blue sky” and “the land of horses”.
• Mongolia is a parliamentary republic.
• The Mongol Empire was established by Genghis Khan in 1206.
• Capital: Ulaanbaatar
• Currency: Togorg

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