Nepal, Mongolia sign agreement on various points

Kathmandu / Dec 19: Nepal and Mongolia held bilateral talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu on Monday. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Tsend Munkh-Ogil, led their respective delegations for the talks, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides discussed the matters of mutual interest with a view to further promoting cordial bilateral relations. The two ministers signed the Agreement on the Exemption from Visa Requirements for the holders of diplomatic and official (special) passport. The two sides also agreed on the following matters:

i) The Nepali side appreciated the active role played by Mongolia for the establishment of the International Think Tank for Land Locked Developing Countries and agreed to accede to its agreement after completing the domestic procedures,

ii) Both sides agreed to establish a Bilateral Consultation, Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries to maintain regular contacts and share views on the matters of mutual interest,

iii) The Mongolian side reiterated its commitment for the establishment of a Mongolian monastery in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha,

iv) Both sides agreed to exchange visits of parliamentarians, media persons, cultural groups to further promote tourism, people to people contacts and cultural cooperation between Nepal and Mongolia,

v) The Nepali side agreed to share its peacekeeping experiences with Mongolia, and

vi) Both sides also agreed to collaborate and cooperate in the UN forums to further promote the cause of LLDCs.

The Mongolian delegation included Member of Mongolian Parliament, L. Eldev-ochir, Non-Resident Ambassador of Mongolia to Nepal, Gonchig Ganold, while the Nepali delegation included Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. RSS