India’s plans to deepen ties with Mongolia, sandwiched between Russia and China, comes at a time when Beijing is expanding its influence in Delhi’s periphery in South Asia, with analysts terming Indian push as an instance of ‘politico-diplomatic astuteness’.

Swaraj’s visit was the first visit by Indian foreign minister to Mongolia in 42 years. Prime Minister Modi had visited Mongolia in 2015 and a plan for a comprehensive partnership was in the works since then, the officials indicated.

“The visit of PM Modi in May 215 to Mongolia saw the two countries raising the partnership to a strategic level. Now that the two countries would be further deepening the ties across sectors,” said a government official who asked not to be named.

According to the agreed minutes of India-Mongolia joint committee, which Swaraj co-chaired on April 25, the two countries have agreed to promote the links between ministries and agencies from both sides, including closer ties between their national security councils.

“The two sides take part in joint exercises and they wish to step up the security cooperation. The forthcoming visit of home minister Rajnath Singh comes in this context,” said another official on condition of anonymity.

New Delhi will be hosting senior government officials from Mongolia at premier Indian institutes to train them in public policy and governance, said the minutes of the committee. For example, the Foreign Service Institute, which trains Indian diplomats, will host training programmes for Mongolian diplomats as well.

The two sides also decided to step up the cooperation in the mineral exploration sector and to speed up the plans to set up an oil refinery in Mongolia with an Indian line of credit of $ 1 billion. The two sides also agreed to explore the possibility of direct air connectivity and cooperation in the fields of telecommunication, education and health.

Commodore (retd) C Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies, said that strengthening ties with Mongolia was ‘long overdue’. “It makes for strategic prudence for Delhi to invest in and be engaged with Mongolia. India’s Buddhist profile is very revered in that country.”

When asked if the China factor was behind India’s engagement, Bhaskar said, “Even if this is not stated explicitly, political geography is not an existential reality. Politico-diplomatic astuteness lies in maximising small opportunities and margins when they present themselves. Delhi has been diffident for decades.”