India and Mongolia can act as Agents of Change in Asia: Secretary East

March 14, 2013

New Delhi: In the backdrop of New Delhi’s recent efforts to strengthen relations with Mongolia, Mr Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, today said that in the international strategic landscape that is evolving faster and in more complex ways than ever, particularly in Asia, “India and Mongolia are agents of some of the changes that are taking place.”

Mr Singh was speaking at the 2nd IDSA-ISS Bilateral Dialogue on ‘Emerging International Strategic Dynamics: Indian And Mongolian Perspectives’ organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in collaboration with the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS), Mongolia, on March 14, 2012.

Mr Singh said that in recent years, both the nations have “imparted greater content and strategic orientation to our Comprehensive Partnership through institutionalised cooperation on foreign policy, defence and security issues in addition to our economic and technical cooperation.”

Highlighting recent international dynamics, like shift in economic power from West to East, Mr Singh said “given the current trends, there is little disagreement in strategic circles that this is the Asian moment, if not as is widely claimed, that this will be an ‘Asian century’.”

Talking about several Asian countries “experiencing significant political change, ranging from peaceful political transitions to a violent overthrow of regimes, the implications of which are yet to be fully understood”, he said “In Asia, where we have several regional frameworks, some of which have been working reasonably well, efforts to bring about greater and broader regional cooperation have to absorb these lessons.”

“India is in the centre of Asia, especially if we were to look at the way Asia is placed in relation to the oceans” and “Mongolia is the heart of the Asian Landmass”, said Mr Singh, adding “in many ways both our countries have a balanced orientation emphasizing peace and stability”. Emphasising the already existing warm relations and cordiality between the two countries, Mr Singh said that cooperation on foreign policy, defence, security and trade would further strengthen bilateral relations.

Also speaking on the occasion was, Ambassador Sanjaasuren Bayaraa, Ambassador of Mongolia to India, who expressed hope that during the forth coming Inter-Government meet on March 22, 2013 in New Delhi, there would be an agreement on starting direct flights, closer defence and security co-operation and stronger trade and economic relations, with special reference to booming mining industry in Mongolia and opportunities for India.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr D Ganbat, Director, ISS, appreciated India’s support for a “Mongolian bid for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat in 2022 and Mongolia in the 2012 elections to the UN Human Rights Council.” It is important to develop complimentary economic cooperation in he years to come, he added.

Speaking at the session on ‘Indian and Mongolian Foreign Policy Issues’, Senior Fellow, IDSA, Ambassador Phunchok Stobdan, said that lack of investment in vast coal and petroleum reserves of Mongolia gives India an opportunity to enhance its economic relations with the country. Mongolia’s successful democratic transition in the 1990s and their deep cultural ties with India will encourage tourism for both medical and spiritual purposes and will allow Mongolian officials to study Indian Democratic processes, he said, adding that at the geo-political level, Mongolia factors importantly into India’s, Eurasia, China and Russian Foreign policy.

Mongolia’s ‘third neighbour policy’, which seeks to minimise both Moscow’s and Beijing’s influence, by forging links with other world powers, holds significant relevance for India. Over the past few years, New Delhi has stepped up its engagement with the country with the aim of building a long-term mutually beneficial partnership. Mongolian President Mr. T Elbegdorg’s visit to New Delhi in 2009 and President Patil’s visit to Ulaanbaatar in July 2011 (the first such visit by a President of India in 23 years) have gone a long way in cementing bilateral ties. The bilateral trade during 2011-12 stood at US$ 57.16 million, an increase of 151 per cent over the previous year.

Complete text of Keynote Address by Shri Sanjay Singh, Secretary (East), MEA [+]