Kathmandu, Jan. 3 : Nepal and Mongolia established formal diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level on Jan. 5, 1961 and coincidentally, 40 years after, the present Mongolian President Natasagiin Bagabandi is arriving on a three-day state visit of the Kingdom of Nepal on Jan. 5, 2001.
Mr Bagabandi is the first Mongolian President of pay a state visit to the Kingdom of Nepal.
Landlocked states sandwiched between two big nations, Nepal and Mongolia have cooperated with each other in various international organisations.
Nepal and Mongolia signed a bilateral trade agreement in 1992. The agreement accords most favoured nation treatment to each other and is valid for a period of five years, and unless either of the countries wishes to terminate it, it shall automatically continue in force for the next five years.
Likewise, the two countries also signed a cultural agreement in 1995 during the visit of the then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary.
The agreement envisages cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, art, science, education, sports and tourism. The five-year agreement will also be automatically extended to a further five years unless terminated by either of the countries.
Having strong faith in the ideals and principles of the United Nations charter and the principles of peaceful co-existence, Nepal and Mongolia hold similar views on international peace, disarmament and development.
So far, the economic ties between Nepal and Mongolia are minimal. However, there is some possibility of expanding these ties. Wool processing, handicrafts, livestock, highland pasturing and horse breeding may be some of the potential areas of cooperation.
Mongolia has been showing some interest in the development of Lumbini and is requesting a piece of land in the Lumbini monastic zone for building its own monastery there.
The two countries have also exchanged several high level visits. Important among them are the state visit of His late Majesty King Mahendra to Mongolia in 1961 and the official visit of the then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari in April, 1995.
Likewise, the chairman of the Great People’s Hural of Mongolia Bat-Ochircin Altangerel visited Nepal in April, 1987 and Mongolian Foreign Minister Dugarsuren in February 1978.
Minister for Nature and Environment of Mongolia U. Barsbold was in Kathmandu last November to participate in a WWF Conference and he was accompanied by former prime minister of Mongolia Gungaadorj.
Democracy was restored in Nepal and established in Mongolia in the same year, 1990. Following establishment of democracy, Mongolia has been willing to strengthen its foreign relations and work jointly with different countries worldwide, says spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Gyan Chandra Acharya.
Officials talks to be held during the state visit will cover regional and international relations, and also exchange views on various matters relating to expansion of cultural and trade relations between the two countries.