India, Mongolia ink uranium supply pact, four other agreements
New Delhi: India and Mongolia on Monday signed five bilateral agreements, including one on uranium supply after talks between visiting Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj
and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. India also announced a soft loan
of 25 million dollars to the Central Asian country. The memorandum of agreement
on "development of cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of radioactive minerals
and nuclear energy" was signed by senior officials in the department of atomic
energy of the two countries. Mongolia becomes the fifth country after the US,
France, Russia and Kazakhstan to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with
India. Other agreements related to stabilisation loan assistance, health and medical
science, cooperation in statistical matters and a cultural exchange programme
for 2009-2012. Earlier, Dr. Singh welcomed President Elbegdorj to India. In an
opening statement, he said that Indo-Mongolian relations have strong historical
and spiritual roots. "They are characterized by warmth and deep friendship. The
1994 Treaty of Friendly Relations and Cooperation provides the guiding principles
for developing our relations," he said. He said that he had extremely productive
discussions with President Elbegdorj during which both reviewed the entire gamut
of bilateral relations, and discussed regional and international issues of mutual
interest. Dr. Singh revealed that after Monday's discussions, bilateral ties have
been raised to the level of a "Comprehensive Partnership" and added that a joint
declaration would be issued that would chart out the future course of relations.
"I have assured the President of our readiness to assist Mongolia in the field
of education, particularly in the teaching of English language, and information
technology. We will assist Mongolia in the establishment of an Information Technology
Centre. We see great potential for deeper cooperation in the areas of mining and
agriculture. We have agreed to increase our trade, investment and economic exchanges,
building upon the Bilateral Investment Protection and Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreements that are already in place," Dr. Singh said. "We also attach importance
to our expanding defence exchanges and cooperation with Mongolia, including regular
joint exercises between our armies. We have agreed to strengthen our cooperation
in this area. We have agreed to continue to work together closely on regional
and international issues, including combating terrorism and reform of the United
Nations Security Council, to advance our shared interests," he added. The Prime
Minister said that he had accepted the president's invitation to visit Mongolia.
