In a powerful show of diplomatic alignment and cultural solidarity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening India-Mongolia relations, both strategically and spiritually, during the Mongolian leader’s first state visit to India as president.
Addressing a joint press briefing after wide-ranging talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi announced several major initiatives to bolster bilateral ties — including free e-visas for Mongolian citizens, advancement of the $1.7 billion Indian-supported oil refinery project in Mongolia, and renewed efforts to deepen Buddhist cultural exchanges. “India is a reliable partner in Mongolia’s development journey,” said PM Modi. “We are proud to support Mongolia’s energy independence through our largest global development project, and to foster deeper people-to-people ties rooted in our shared Buddhist heritage.”
Highlighting India’s commitment to Mongolia’s energy security, PM Modi underscored the progress of the oil refinery project near Sainshand, supported by India’s $1.7 billion line of credit.
The facility is poised to significantly reduce Mongolia’s dependence on fuel imports and currently involves over 2,500 Indian professionals working alongside Mongolian teams. Both leaders reiterated their shared commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific and pledged continued cooperation in global forums to amplify the voice of the Global South. The visit reflects growing convergence between the two democracies on regional and international strategic issues. Reinforcing the civilizational bond rooted in Buddhism, PM Modi announced that India will send the holy relics of Lord Buddha’s two chief disciples — Sariputra and Maudgalyayana — to Mongolia in 2026.
This is expected to further strengthen spiritual ties and enhance cultural understanding. “Our relationship is not merely diplomatic — it is a bond of warmth and spirituality,” Modi said. “We are spiritual siblings.”
Modi also announced the deployment of a Sanskrit teacher to the Gandan Monastery in Mongolia to assist in Buddhist text studies, and a collaborative linkage between Nalanda University and Gandan Monastery, signifying the shared scholarly legacy of the two nations. As part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, President Ukhnaa planted a banyan sapling in memory of his late mother, symbolising the growing environmental and emotional connect between the nations. India also pledged to sponsor annual cultural ambassador visits from Mongolia, aimed at building long-term people-to-people ties.
President Ukhnaa’s visits marks 70 years of India-Mongolia diplomatic relations and 10 years of the Strategic Partnership, established during Modi’s historic 2015 visit to Ulaanbaatar. To commemorate the occasion, the two countries released a joint postal stamp, celebrating their shared heritage and diplomatic progress.
President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa hailed India’s leadership in the clean energy sector, particularly under the International Solar Alliance, and expressed strong support for expanding bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, digital infrastructure and education.
