External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday began a two-nation visit to Mongolia and South Korea, with New Delhi seeking to expand strategic and economic engagement with key Indo-Pacific partners. In Ulaanbaatar, Jaishankar held talks with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh and reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties, including development cooperation, capacity building, security, and multilateral coordination.
New Areas of Collaboration Identified
The minister identified mining, clean energy, and agro-processing as sectors offering fresh opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. "Delighted to meet FM Battsetseg Batmunkh in Ulaanbaatar. Our discussions reflected the warmth, strength and promise of our Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar said after the meeting. "Also spoke about opportunities in mining, clean energy and agri processing. As a third neighbour and a spiritual partner, India stands ready to advance its close and cordial ties with Mongolia," he added.
Strengthening the 'Third Neighbour' Partnership
Jaishankar's visit comes as India seeks to strengthen its "third neighbour" partnership with the resource-rich East Asian nation and deepen cooperation beyond traditional areas such as culture and Buddhism. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar will remain in Mongolia until June 23 and is scheduled to call on the country's leadership besides holding extensive discussions with his counterpart.
Next Stop: South Korea
From Mongolia, the External Affairs Minister will travel to the Republic of Korea on June 24 for talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The visit to South Korea is expected to focus on strengthening political and economic ties, with both sides likely to review cooperation in trade, technology, and regional issues. Jaishankar will also deliver the keynote address at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on June 25.
Strategic Context
The two-nation tour comes amid India's continuing efforts to broaden its strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and enhance partnerships with countries that share its vision of a free, open, and inclusive region. India and Mongolia elevated their ties to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to the country in 2015, while South Korea has emerged as one of India's key economic and technological partners under New Delhi's Act East policy.
