New Delhi: The stand-off between India and China over Doklam has entered the sixth week. Even as Beijing tries to flex its muscles, New Delhi has decided firmly to ‘Act East’.
While India prepares to invite all heads of state or government of ASEAN nations for next year’s Republic Day celebrations, PM Modi has also extended an invitation to the newly-elected Mongolian President Khaltamaa Battulga.
The real estate tycoon who came to power earlier this month has been advocating lessening Mongolia, the mineral rich nation’s dependence on China.
The Ministry of External Affairs tried to downplay the timing of this move by saying that it was only natural to extend an invite in the congratulatory note. MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, “we have a different relationship with each country. It can’t be linked to China. All relations stand on their own.”
Battulga has been stressing that Mongolia needs to find other trading partners, with 80% of its current exports are to China. India had extended $1 billion line of credit to Mongolia during the Prime Minister’s visit to Ulaanbaatar in 2015.
Modi had also said, “Mongolia is also an integral part of India's Act East Policy. The destinies of India and Mongolia are closely linked with the future of Asia Pacific Region. We can work together to help advance peace, stability and prosperity in this region.”
Even Vice President Hamid Ansari had visited Mongolia in July last year for the ASEM summit where he had held meetings with the top leadership of the country.
Comments
0 comment