Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – Public diplomacy helps strengthen the contacts between Belarus and India, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Manoj Kumar Bharti said at the House of Friendship on the occasion of the national holiday of India – Republic Day, BelTA has learned.

The diplomat emphasized the importance of arranging Belarus-India cultural events, soirees and exhibitions. In an interview with BelTA, the Indian Ambassador noted that the year 2015 will be very fruitful for the bilateral cooperation. The year will mark a number of important visits and a session of the Belarus-India intergovernmental commission for trade and economy. The two countries are set to hold a series of important meetings aimed to expand cooperation in science and technology. Manoj Kumar Bharti pointed to the high level of technological development of Belarus. He said that India would like to promote cooperation with Belarus across all walks of life.

Belarusian poet, editor-in-chief of the Polymya Magazine Nikolai Metlitsky drew attention to the importance of expanding Belarus-India cultural ties and recited Indian poetry in the Russian language.

Performing at the solemn event were the Indian classical dance group Indivara and the music group Vyazanka.

The attendees could also see an exhibition of paintings by People’s Artist of Belarus, Deputy Chairman of the Belarus-India Friendship Society, laureate of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, Georgy Poplavsky.

Taking part in the meeting were activists of the Belarus-India Friendship Society, representatives of the Indian Embassy in Belarus, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, the National Assembly of Belarus, the Belarusian branch of the International Centre of the Roerichs, teachers and students of Minsk-based educational institutions.