Representative Image. | Mongolian National News Agency
The importance of having the oil refinery is invaluable for us. Mongolia is, economically, heavily dependent on its two neighbours. The clearest example is oil products. Our Indian friends are helping us to be independent in the oil production field. This is how our spiritual neighbours are extending their helping hand to alleviate our economic difficulties.
Introduction
The Mongols and Indians have deep-rooted spiritual, religious, and cultural relations since antiquity. It has been emphasised by scholars from both countries that the Mongol-Indian relationship has a history of around 1500-10000 years.[1] This ancient history makes our bilateral relationship special and grand.
A prominent Indian scholar Lokesh Chandra[2] has argued that this long-running relationship originated from the pursuit of enlightenment, and that the ‘Soyombhu’ emblem on the Mongolian national flag stands as its proof.[3] Likewise, many Indian scholars have asserted that our two nations had relations long before the spread of Buddhism in Mongolia, which were further cemented by Buddhism.
Based on such friendship, Mongolia and India established diplomatic relations on 24th December, 1955 making India the first non-socialist country to diplomatically recognise Mongolia.[4] In 1956, the Embassy of Mongolia was opened in New Delhi and the Indian Embassy was later opened in Ulaanbaatar in 1970.
The Mongolian Embassy in India has immeasurable significance for Mongolia. There was an urgent reason and need for Mongolia to open an Embassy in New Delhi as soon as diplomatic relations were established. Mongolia desperately needed support from developing countries, mainly from the Non-Aligned Movement for joining the United Nations, and New Delhi played an important role in this regard.
New Delhi had many Embassies and Representative Offices at that time. Thus, this city gave us new opportunities in terms of dealing with diplomatic Missions, and therefore, it should be regarded as a leap forward in Mongolia’s diplomatic history.
In other words, New Delhi was the only crystal-clear window as well as conduit for Mongolia to the developing world of the Non-Aligned Movement between 1956 and 1990s. That is to say, India has always been a trustworthy old friend, which warmly welcomed and supported Mongolia.
Based on the long-running historical and cultural ties between our two nations and activities of the Mongolian Embassy in New Delhi, and of course, a deep, personal and broad knowledge of Mongolia, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, spoke for Mongolia at the 15th General Assembly at the United Nations.
He said, “…In this connection, I would like to mention another country, Mongolia. When we are, rightly, admitting so many countries to the United Nations, why should Mongolia be left out? What wrong has it done, what violation of the Charter? Here is a quiet and peaceful people working hard for its progress, and “it seems to me utterly wrong from any point of principle to exclude it from the great Organization.”[5] This was an important political statement that introduced Mongolia to developing countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement.
New Symbol: Spiritual Neighbours
Statue of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. | @HindolSengupta/X.
This was how Mongol-Indian diplomatic relations were cemented in the 20th century. This official diplomatic relationship between the two countries was a revival of the two nations’ ancient friendship, spiritual and cultural ties. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were enriched by a new value, the value of ‘democracy’, after the Mongols chose democracy in 1990. This was the beginning of another phase in the history of their diplomatic relations.
Mongolia paid special attention to deepening and extending bilateral relations with India when the country was emerging as a democratic society with a free market economy. The “ITEC” programme of India played a major role in training highly skilled workers through the Art and Production Polytechnic College in Ulaanbaatar and the Information Technology Center at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology.
Likewise, the Government of India started offering scholarships to Mongolian students in Indian universities. This was a source of significant support for Mongolia to build human resources compatible with a free market economy. In 1988, the Jawaharlal Nehru University opened courses on Mongolian Studies where the Mongolian language was taught. This was a unique initiative that indicated the bilateral relations of the two countries were strong and dynamic.
Kushok Bakula Rinpoche
Furthermore, relations between the two countries received a huge fillip during the official visit of Mongolian President N. Bagabandi to India in 2001 with the permission given by India for the Mongols to build a temple in Bodhgaya, where Guru Shakyamuni Buddha attained full enlightenment. In this connection, one has to acknowledge the tremendous efforts and activities of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, who served as India’s Ambassador to Mongolia for over ten years from 1990 to 2000.
During the period of his service, he supported dozens of young Mongol monks to study in India. He also encouraged many Indian organisations such as Vipassana Meditation Center, Yoga Center, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar’s Centre, and several Indian restaurants which began their activities in Ulaanbaatar. This broadened the scope of cooperation between the two countries.
The Embassy of India opened Hindi language courses in Ulaanbaatar while the National University of Mongolia opened Sanskrit language classes for Buddhist philosophy students. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche established the Pethub Monastery as an excellent example for the monk community in Ulaanbaatar and it is still functioning well today.
In those days, the two countries also made significant political decisions to deepen bilateral relations. One street in Ulaanbaatar was named after Mahatma Gandhi, whose statue was erected there while one in New Delhi was named after Ulaanbaatar. In 2020, Buddha, an Indian drama series, was dubbed in Mongolian and released on Mongolian National Broadcasting TV. Today, this drama serial is one of the most favourite dramas of the Mongols, and is broadcast every year.
It is my pleasure to acknowledge that all of this progress is made due to the tireless activities of Indian Ambassadors in Ulaanbaatar. Indian Ambassadors always have high respect and dignity in the Mongolian political arena. Since then, highest level political visits between the two countries have taken place continuously and thereby numerous significant agreements and contracts were established.[6] For instance, the two countries have signed over 60 agreements since 1990.[7]
Since 1990, the two countries have been developing their bilateral relations as “Spiritual Neighbours.” Today, relations have been raised to the level of a strategic partnership that was established in 2015. The ruling political party in India, Bharatiya Janata Party, which cherishes Indian cultural and historical ties, has acted as a driving force for deepening bilateral relations and cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit, which was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia stands as evidence.[8]
Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
India projected this visit as a celebration of sixty years of diplomatic relations between the two countries while also marking the 25th year of Mongolian democracy. India also emphasised its full support for Mongolian democracy during the visit.[9] Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the basic principles of Indian policy towards two countries’ relations, explained the concept of “Spiritual Neighbours” and spoke about our shared tradition of ancient ties. He expressed his official gratitude to the Mongols for cherishing and preserving the manifold precious elements of Indian culture.
Let me quote some remarks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Honorary Session of the Mongolian Parliament. He said:
“…It is a great honour to speak to the Great Hural. It is a special privilege to do so in the 25th year of democracy in Mongolia. You are the new bright light of democracy in our world”,
“...I bring the greetings of your 1.25 billion spiritual neighbours”,
“...There is no higher form of a relationship; no bonds more sacred than this. We in India are honoured that you think of us this way”,
“Today Indians and Mongolians are telling the world that the bonds of hearts and minds have the strength to overcome the barriers of distance.”[10]
The Mongols were deeply impressed by these words. In doing so, Prime Minister Narendra Modi identified our country as the new bright light of democracy in the world. These words were immensely encouraging to us. As a confirmation of our spiritual neighbours’ relations, he stated “There is no higher form of a relationship; no bonds more sacred than this.” This statement forms the theoretical basis for our new bilateral relations and cooperation.
Making Mongolia Energy Independent
It was in this way that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mongolia in 2015 opened a new page in the history of the two countries. India also announced its decision to grant a $1 billion credit line to Mongolia for building an oil refinery plant.[11] Today, the “Mongol Refinery” state-owned LLC, which is an ongoing project to build an oil refinery plant in Mongolia by an Indian loan with favourable conditions, is shining as a new symbol of cooperation between the two countries.
Indian and Mongolian teams at the Dornogovi oil refinery. | @EngineersInd/X.
The importance of having the oil refinery is invaluable for us. Mongolia is, economically, heavily dependent on its two neighbours. The clearest example is oil products. Our Indian friends are helping us to be independent in the oil production field. This is how our spiritual neighbours are extending their helping hand to alleviate our economic difficulties.
Another oil refinery plant with a capacity of 1.5 million tons per year is planned to be built in Altan Shiree Soum, Dornogovi Province of Mongolia. A groundbreaking ceremony was done by the President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh and His Excellency Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Home Affairs, India on 22nd of June, 2018, and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. There is no country other than India that can fund projects in such a strategically important sector to free Mongolia from foreign dependence and influence.
I regard this decision as a reflection of Indian political thinking not only at the regional but also world level. It has been sixty-nine years since Mongolia and India officially established diplomatic relations in 1955. Today, the relationship between the two countries is at the strategic partnership level, which is the highest form of relations.
For us, the Mongols, India is the Spiritual Neighbour, a highly valuable strategic partner, and one of our Third Neighbours.[12]
(Exclusive to NatStrat)
Endnotes
Interregional Cooperation between Central and South Asia: A View from Tashkent
The Indus Waters Treaty: A Critical Analysis of India's Diplomatic Concessions
75 Years of the India-Nepal Friendship Treaty: A Time-Tested Bond or a Relic of the Past?
Era of Ideological Wars, Strategic Ambiguity, and Trust Deficit: Can India Salvage It?
