Why in News?

• The 11^th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was recently held in India.

Highlights

• While acknowledging the growing ties between both the countries, they expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defense cooperation despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19 pandemic.
• India and Mongolia have interacted through Buddhism throughout history.
• Mongolia regards India as its “third” neighbor along with US, Japan, and Germany and a “spiritual neighbour”
• India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955 and it was the first country outside the Soviet bloc to open diplomatic relations with Mongolia.
• The Indian Resident Mission in Ulaanbaatar was opened in 1971.
• This relationship was upgraded to “strategic partnership” in 2015 when the Indian Prime Minister visited Mongolia and declared it as an essential component of ‘Act East Policy’.
• Mongolia has publicly reiterated its support for India’s membership to the permanent seat of the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• India has played an important role in getting Mongolia membership to key international forums, including the United Nations (UN), despite strong opposition from China and Taiwan.
• India also championed the inclusion of Mongolia in the Non-Aligned Movement.
• In a reciprocal gesture, Mongolia co-sponsored a 1972 UN resolution with India and Bhutan for the recognition of the newly liberated Bangladesh.