ULAANBAATAR, July 27 � India and Mongolia will seek to enhance their bilateral ties after President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and her official delagation touched town at Ulaanbaatar today.
In a function organised by the Indian Community and Friends of India, the President appreciated the role of the small Indian community at Mongolia saying that the members of the community represent the spirit and soul of India in Mongolia'.
In her speech, she said that India will focus on the ways and means to impart more economic content to the relations with Mongolia. Not surprsingly, her address mentioned the role India could play in expanding and steel and coal industry of Mongolia which has rich reservoirs of gold and other minerals as well.
Appreciating the country's democratic credentials, President Patil said that democracy was the ideal platform for the welfare of citizens.
Her speech reflected on the ancient ties shared by India and Mongolia, and pointed out specifc instances of knowledge from India being absorbed by the landlocked country to India's north. She said that by co-operation and collaboration the two countries can leverage the strengths unique to them.
In the next two days, the Indian president will meet the President and Prime Minister of Mongolia, among other high officials and will lay the ground work for closer ties between the two democracies. She is also expected to visit a few cultural sights which exemplify Mongolia's Buddhist heritage.
