Agreements signed will deepen security cooperation between India, Mongolia: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the agreements signed between India and Mongolia would deepen their cooperation in border security and cyber security.

"We attach high importance to our security cooperation. We will continue to participate in each other's defence exercises. The agreements today will deepen our cooperation in border security and cyber security. Cooperation between National Security Councils will provide a strategic framework for cooperation. We have also agreed that India will help establish a cyber security centre in Mongolia's defence and security establishment," Prime Minister Modi said, after he and his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbileg witnessed the signing of 14 agreements between the two nations.

"Our trade and investment relations are modest. We recognise that there are physical limitations. But, we agreed that economic growth in our two countries is opening up new opportunities. There is huge potential in civil nuclear sector, mining, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and dairy. We should also explore the possibilities of using digital technology to expand our economic relations," he added.

He also confirmed that he would be laying the foundation stone for the expansion and upgrading of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence for Information and Communication Technology in Mongolia.

"Later today, I will have the pleasure to lay the foundation stone for the expansion and upgrading of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence for Information and Communication Technology. I will also visit the National Cancer Centre to gift Bhabhatron II. It is a state of the art nuclear medicine cancer therapy machine, developed and manufactured in India," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Gandantegchinlen monastery in the city, where he interacted with the Hamba Lama and gifted him a sapling of a Bodhi tree.

This was followed by a ceremonial welcome that was accorded to him at the Mongolian State Palace at the Chinggis Khaan Square, where he also signed the guestbook.

Prime Minister Modi is later scheduled to address the Mongolian Parliament, the first foreign leader to address the members on Sunday, a holiday. He will also call on Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Ulaanbaatar on Saturday night, is the first Indian prime minister to visit Mongolia. He shall depart for Seoul, the final destination of his three-nation tour, on Monday morning.