India and Mongolia on Tuesday reaffirmed their strong strategic partnership and announced a series of new initiatives to deepen cooperation in defence, energy, digital infrastructure, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Welcoming Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the visit was especially meaningful as it marked 70 years of diplomatic relations and a decade of strategic partnership between the two nations.

To celebrate the milestone, the two leaders jointly released a postal stamp symbolising the shared civilisational and cultural bonds between India and Mongolia.

“Our relationship is more than a diplomatic engagement—it is a deep, soulful and spiritual bond,” the Prime Minister said during a joint press statement. He recalled that it was during his visit to Mongolia in 2015 that bilateral relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

The day began with a tree plantation ceremony under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. President Khurelsukh planted a banyan tree in memory of his late mother, which PM Modi described as a symbol of lasting friendship and a shared commitment to the environment.

In defence, India announced a new capacity-building programme for Mongolia’s border security forces and the appointment of a Defence Attaché at the Indian embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Both leaders highlighted joint training programmes to strengthen defence collaboration.

PM Modi said both countries shared a vision for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed their close cooperation in international forums, particularly in championing the concerns of the Global South.

Cultural and spiritual connections were also central to the talks. The two leaders announced that India will send the holy relics of Lord Buddha’s disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, to Mongolia next year. A Sanskrit teacher will also be sent to the Gandan Monastery to support deeper study of Buddhist philosophy.

India will also help digitise one million ancient manuscripts, and Nalanda University will expand academic collaboration with the Gandan Monastery, continuing a long-standing tradition of scholarly exchange.

To strengthen local-level links, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Mongolia’s Arkhangai Province.

To encourage travel and cultural exchange, India will offer free e-visas to Mongolian citizens and will sponsor annual visits of young cultural ambassadors from Mongolia.

PM Modi also reviewed India’s largest overseas development project, the Oil Refinery Project in Mongolia, supported by a $ 1.7 billion Indian line of credit. Over 2,500 Indian professionals are working alongside Mongolian counterparts to enhance the country’s energy security.

The Prime Minister said India would continue to support capacity building in Mongolia through initiatives like the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Centre of Excellence for IT and the India-Mongolia Friendship School.

New projects aimed at improving livelihoods and skills in Mongolia were announced, and private sector collaborations are being explored in critical minerals, energy, digital technologies, agriculture, dairy, mining, and cooperatives.

“Our relations are built on a solid foundation of trust and friendship between two ancient civilisations,” the Prime Minister said. “Together, we will take this strategic partnership to new heights.”