Ulaanbaatar, July 7, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Lower House of the Parliament of India Om Birla, who is on an Official Visit to Mongolia today have held official talks at the State House.

At the beginning of the meeting, both sides confirmed their aspiration to expand and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation between Mongolia and India and mutually expressed that this relationship is grounded on the precious bonds of "mind" of the two nations and is developing within the framework of the Strategic Partnership based on the common values of democracy.

Speaker Zandanshatar emphasized that the visit of Om Birla, Speaker of the Lower House of the Parliament, is a significant event in enriching bilateral relations with new content, strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, and mutual trust.

Thanking for the warm welcome the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Lower House of the Parliament of India Om Birla expressed his confidence that this visit will deepen relations and cooperation between the two countries, regularize high-level dialogues, and bring cooperation between the legislative bodies to a new level.

The historical relations between India and Mongolia have been enriched by mutual high-level visits in modern time and is intensively developing in all fields such as trade, economy, education, culture, and defense. He mentioned that India, as the world's largest democracy, gives emphasis on its legislative activities, and noted the importance of organizing mutual visits and business meetings between legislative bodies, and exchanging experience and information.

In addition, the parties were unanimous that major projects and programs that will make a crucial contribution to enhancing the cooperation in the trade, economy, and education sectors of the two countries with new content are under implementation and the developments are taking place thoroughly. To put the Oil Refinery into operation, which is a symbol of cooperation between the two countries, within the planned period they also mutually confirmed the parliaments’ commitment to making efforts and providing support in all aspects.

Specifically, the parties agreed to conclude three sub-contracts within the framework of repayment of USD 1 billion loan of the project and to extend the repayment period of the unused loan by 5 years.

Speaker Zandanshatar mentioned that the Mongolian side is paying attention to the export of coking coal to India within the framework of increasing the trade turnover between the two countries and supporting Mongolia’s exports. He also expressed his gratitude for the decision to establish the Mongolian-Indian Friendship General Education School in Mongolia, which would be a symbol of cooperation in the field of education.