Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Seeking to expand India’s defence ties with Mongolia, army chief General V.K. Singh Tuesday left for Ulan Bator on a three-day visit, during which he will interact with the security and political top brass of the Central Asian country.

Singh, who will have a brief stop over in Chinese capital Beijing before proceeding towards Ulan Bator, will be the first Indian Army chief after General N.C. Vij to visit the Mongolian capital.

“The visit is taking place after a gap of seven years and is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and defence cooperation,” an army release said here.

President Prathiba Patil visited Mongolia in July, when a number of important issues were addressed.

“The current visit by the army chief highlights India’s desire to build trust, further people to people contact and defence cooperation. It will have a high military symbolism of solidarity with Mongolia, as it celebrates a hundred years of Mongolian liberation and ninety years of formation of the Mongolian armed forces,” the release said.

During the visit, Singh will be interacting with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Mongolian armed forces’ Chief of General Staff Byambajav Tserendejid, and will be attending the centenary celebrations of Mongolia’s liberation.

India and Mongolia already have an established military training cooperation which includes the conduct of joint exercises and training of Mongolian armed forces in Indian military establishments.

India has also provided other forms of assistance, like non-lethal military equipment for the Mongolian armed forces in UN assignments.