Nepal and Mongolia on Monday reached several agreements and understandings aiming to promote bilateral ties.

The understandings and pacts were reached during a meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat and visiting Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh-Orgil at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Both sides reached an agreement on waiving visa requirements for diplomatic and official (special) passport bearers of the two countries.

This provision will gradually apply to other ordinary passport holder of both the countries, said Mahat, adding that such move will help in building and expanding ties between the two counties at people-to-people level.

Minister Munkh-Orgil is currently in Nepal on a three-day visit.

Nepal also agreed to extend support to Mongolia in the latter’ bid to set up a think tank to assist and cooperate the least developed countries (LDCs). During the meeting, Mongolian Minister Munkh-Orgil is learnt to have told Mahat that the think tank aims to study the common interest and the needs of the landlocked countries.

Establishment of such a think tank will be helpful in taking common interests of the LDCs to international platforms and form common position of the bloc, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry while supporting the Mongolian proposal.

Apart from this, both countries also agreed to hold discussions every two years at the foreign minister, secretary and official levels to strengthen bilateral ties. Such meetings will help strengthen diplomatic relations at the people-to-people level.

Nepal will also support Mongolia to set up a Buddhist monastery in Lumbini for which an agreement has been reached between the two countries, according to Mahat. 

An agreement for cultural exchanges between Nepal and Mongolia for the promotion of culture and tourism at people-to-people level was also reached. Both sides also agreed to visits of parliamentarians and journalists on a regular basis that will enhance the understanding about the two countries.

During the meeting, Mongolian Foreign Minister Munkh-Orgil commended Nepal’s role in the United Nations for the establishment of peace and harmony and said that he was keen to learn from the experience of Nepal, particularly in the area of peacekeeping.

Senior foreign ministry officials including Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi from the Nepali said while a high-level delegation from Mongolia, comprising members of parliamentarians and non-resident ambassador to Nepal, were present during the meeting.

The visiting Mongolian foreign minister said that his visit intended to further strengthen the Nepal-Mongolia ties.

Understandings reached

-    To exempt Visa Requirements for the holders of diplomatic and official (special) passports

-    To establish a Bilateral Consultative Mecha-nism to maintain regular contacts and share views on matters of mutual interest  

-    The Mongolian side reiterated its commitment to the establishment of a Mongolian monastery in Lumbini—the birth place of Lord Buddha

-    Agreement on exchange of visits of parliamentarians, journalists, cultural groups to further promote tourism, people-to-people contacts and cultural cooperation between Nepal and Mongolia

-    Agreement on Nepal sharing its peacekeeping experiences with Mongolia

-    Agreement on collaboration and cooperating at UN forums to further promote the cause of Land Locked Developed Countries