Nepal, Mongolia forge new agreement

KATHMANDU, Dec 19: An agreement has been reached between Nepal and Mongolia whereby the diplomatic passport-bearers and government officials of both countries will not be obliged to take visa for visit to each country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has believed that this step will help strengthen bilateral ties in the days ahead. The agreement was made after Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Prakash Sharan Mahat and his Mongolian counterpart Tsend Munkh-Orgil held bilateral talks today in the MoFA. Minister Orgil is currently here on a three-day visit to Nepal from yesterday.

It is noted that Nepal and Mongolia had established diplomatic ties on Janaury 5, 1961. The then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari had visited Mongolia during his China trip.

Following the meeting, Minister Mahat briefed the journalists that they forged consensus to form a think tank participating from the both countries and aimed at studying the common interest and the needs of the landlocked countries, as proposed by Mongolia. He added that Nepal was positive regarding the proposal and assured support for the same.

Minister Mahat further said both countries were agreed to hold discussion in every two years at the foreign minister, secretary and officials' level to strengthen the bilateral ties and added that such meeting will strengthen the diplomatic relations at the people-to-people level.

Mahat shared that Nepal pledged its support to Mongolia for setting up a monastery in Lumbini for which, according to him, an agreement has been made between the two countries.

Agreement for cultural exchanges between Nepal and Mongolia for promotion of culture and tourism at people-to-people level has been made.

Furthermore, Mahat quoted Mongolian Foreign Minister Munkh-Orgil as saying that he commended the Nepal's role through the United Nations for establishment of peace and said that he was keen to learn from the experience of Nepal in this area.

Present in the bilateral meeting and agreement exchange program were Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal and a high-level delegation from Mongolia comprising members of parliamentarians and non-resident Ambassador to Nepal.

Earlier Mahat, receiving Mongolian Foreign Minister Munkh-Orgil, had expressed his confidence that relations between Nepal and Mongolia would gain a new pace with his visit.

The visiting Mongolian Foreign Minister too expressed that his visit intended to further strengthen the Nepal-Mongolia ties. RSS