In 'significant milestone' of relationship, India and Mongolia sign 14 agreements

Prime Minister Modi also stated that India will provide an amount of USD one billion to support the expansion of Ulaanbaatar's economic capacity and infrastructure and referred to Mongolia as an integral part of his government's 'Act East' policy.

Among the agreements signed between New Delhi and Ulaanbaatar are: a joint statement for India-Mongolia strategic partnership; air services agreement between India and Mongolia; agreement between India Mongolia on cooperation in the field of animal health and dairy; treaty between India Mongolia on the transfer of sentenced persons; memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Mongolia on cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy; MoU between the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Mongolian Ministry of Justice for enhancing co-operation in border guarding, policing and surveillance; programme of cooperation between India and Mongolia in the field of culture for the years 2015-2018; MoU between India and Mongolia on the establishment of cyber security training centre in the ministry of defence of Mongolia; MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; MoU on cooperation between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; MoU between the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Mongolian Ministry of Energy on cooperation in the field of renewable energy; MoU for cooperation between the Indian National Security Council and the Mongolian National Security Council; MoU between India and Mongolia on the establishment of India-Mongolia Friendship Secondary School in Mongolia; and MoU between Tata Memorial Centre and the Mongolian National Cancer Centre for gifting of Bhabhatron-II Telecobalt Unit along with a radiotherapy simulator.

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 and will lay the foundation stone of the IT centre at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Ulaanbaatar on Saturday night, is the first Indian prime minister to visit Mongolia.