Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds bilateral talks with his Mongolian counterpart in Ulaanbaatar; Discusses ways to further expand defence engagements

• Inaugurates Cyber Security Training Centre built with India’s assistance at National Defence University
• Lays foundation stone of India-Mongolia Friendship School to be constructed with Indian assistance

New Delhi. On the first day of engagements on his visit to Mongolia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with his Mongolian counterpart Lt Gen Saikhanbayar Gursed in Ulaanbaatar on September 6. He also called on the President of Mongolia and Chairman of State Great Khural.

The Defence Minister 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 5 to become the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the country, the hectic day of engagements began for Rajnath Singh with a ceremonial guard of honour at the Ministry of Defence in Ulaanbaatar. This was followed by delegation-level talks between the two ministers to discuss effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements and deliberate on regional & global issues of mutual interest.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and understanding, common interests and shared values of democracy and 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

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

Cyber Security Training Centre

Another highlight of the day was the inauguration of Cyber Security Training Centre, built with assistance from the Indian government at the National Defence University. The Defence Minister 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

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

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