Agencies/Ulan Bator

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks yesterday with his counterpart during a visit to Mongolia, with the two nations upgrading relations as Delhi tries to strengthen its influence in China’s backyard.
Meeting Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg, Modi praised the resource-rich nation as “the new bright light of democracy in our world” and said the two were “closely linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region.”
Mongolia is seeking to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the landlocked nation.
The leaders signed a joint statement upgrading relations to a “strategic partnership,” just a year after Mongolia and China reached a similar agreement.
Other agreements included a $1bn line of credit from India to support the expansion of Mongolia’s infrastructure, and promises to deepen co-operation on border security and defence.
Mongolia’s economy - fuelled in recent years by a mining boom that led to high rates of growth, peaking at 17.5% in 2011 - depends largely on trade with China.
Yet it remains wary of China’s economic dominance, which has prompted a rise in protectionist government policies and resource nationalism.
India has democratic link with Mongolia and was the first country outside the Soviet bloc to establish diplomatic relations with it.
With an area nearly half the size of India, Mongolia is considered the only functioning democracy in Central Asia.
With a population of less than 3mn, the nation sandwiched between China and Russia relies on foreign investment in coal and mineral extraction to drive its economy.
A 59% slump in investment last year and a political crisis in November propelled Saikhanbileg, representing a younger generation of Mongolian politicians, to become prime minister.
Modi, who began his East Asian tour in China, is the first Indian prime minister officially to visit Mongolia. He will go on to South Korea.
Yesterday he visited the Gandan Monastery, a Tibetan-style Buddhist institution in the capital Ulan Bator.
Earlier in the day, Modi shot arrows as he tried his hand at archery at the traditional Mongolian Mini Naadam festival near here.
Attired in traditional Mongolian costume, topped with a sola hat and accompanied by Saikhanbileg, Modi held the bow and shot an arrow with confidence.
Saikhanbileg and others, including India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who were watching keenly, applauded smilingly.
Saikhanbileg also tried his hand at archery.
“Not to be outdone, Mongolian PM Saikhanbileg also takes aim,” tweeted external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup.
Modi and the Mongolian premier also watched sporting events of wrestling, archery and horse riding at the Chingisiin Khuree Camp, 25km from capital Ulan Bator.
Saikhanbileg presented Modi with a Mongolian horse, Kanthaka. “With Kanthaka, a gift from Mongolia,” Modi tweeted.
After posing with China’s Premier Li Keqiang last week, Modi pressed on with “selfie diplomacy - posting a mobile phone snap of himself and Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj on Twitter.
“President Elbegdorj and I say hello!” he wrote.