Mongolian President announces direct air links to India, hails oil refinery project as “flagship” of bilateral cooperation during visit to New Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
In a significant step aimed at strengthening connectivity and boosting economic and cultural ties, Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa on Tuesday announced that the Mongolian Air Carrier will begin operating flights to New Delhi and Amritsar later this year. The new routes, he said, would provide a major impetus to tourism and business between the two countries.
President Ukhnaa made the announcement during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, held as part of his four-day state visit to India.
“Mongolian air carrier is preparing to operate charter flights to New Delhi and Amritsar starting later this year, which will make a substantial contribution to expanding our bilateral relations and cooperation, including tourism and business sectors,” President Ukhnaa said.
He underlined that both nations shared a common vision for enhancing connectivity through diversified transport and logistics networks. “I am pleased to underscore that both sides share similar views on the significance of exploring new transport and logistics connections and gateways to enhance our trade and economic cooperation, as well as jointly utilizing the potential of third-country ports and transport corridors, sharing experience in road and railway development, and examining the feasibility of establishing regular direct flights and increasing transit connections between our two countries,” he added.
The President’s remarks reflected Mongolia’s strategic intent to deepen its partnership with India beyond traditional areas of cooperation, with a special focus on trade, energy, and regional connectivity.
During his visit, several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two sides, covering a range of sectors from development cooperation to community empowerment. President Ukhnaa said these agreements would serve to strengthen local economies and uplift livelihoods.
“The Memorandum of Understanding on the Promotion of Cooperatives and the Agreement on Cooperation in Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects, will not only support Mongolia’s regional development concept, but also greatly contribute to empowering local communities, empowering citizens’ livelihoods, and promoting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises,” he said.
Highlighting the ongoing India-supported oil refinery project in Mongolia, President Ukhnaa described it as a symbol of the close strategic and economic partnership between the two nations. “The construction of the oil refinery stands as a flagship symbol of Mongolia-India cooperation and is of strategic importance for ensuring Mongolia’s economic security and the further prosperity of the country,” he stated.
The Mongolian President expressed “deep gratitude to the government and companies of India, and to PM Modi for the all-round support and collaboration for the successful implementation” of the refinery project.
He lauded Prime Minister Modi’s efforts in strengthening the partnership between the two countries. “Prime Minister Modi’s contributions and efforts have played a tremendous role in expanding and deepening the relations and cooperation between India and Mongolia,” he said, adding that the outcomes of their meeting would “bring prosperity to our two nations and benefit our peoples, thereby catalyzing the growth of Mongolia-India relations and cooperation even further.”
In his concluding remarks, President Ukhnaa referred to India and Mongolia as “spiritual neighbours” united by deep historical and cultural bonds. Extending an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister, he said, “May the friendship between our two peoples continue to blossom for generations to come and may the partnership between Mongolia and India, spiritual neighbours that share historic bonds, flourish for eternity. I reaffirm my invitation for you to pay a state visit to Mongolia, the land of the eternal blue sky with ancient history at a time of your convenience.”
Prime Minister Modi, in his response, said he was “delighted” to welcome the Mongolian leader to India and emphasised the importance of the visit in the context of the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
“I am delighted to welcome President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and his delegation to India. The Mongolian President’s visit to India after a gap of six years is an important event in itself. This visit is taking place when India and Mongolia have completed 70 years of political ties and 10 years of strategic partnership. On this occasion, we have launched a joint poster stamp,” Prime Minister Modi said.
The Mongolian President arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a four-day visit, marking his first official trip to India since assuming office. His engagements include meetings with senior Indian officials, visits to key institutions, and discussions aimed at expanding cooperation in energy, culture, and digital connectivity.
The announcement of direct air connectivity between Mongolia and India is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people contacts, ease business travel, and open new avenues for tourism, trade, and investment, particularly as both countries look to leverage their growing partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. (ANI)
