Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) – Indian President’s first visit to Belarus is historic and will help step on a new level in the Belarusian-Indian relations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Manoj Kumar Bharti stated at a solemn reception organized by the Indian embassy in Minsk on 3 June to mark the visit of Indian head of state Pranab Mukherjee to Belarus, BelTA informs.

“A representative delegation of Indian businessmen has arrived in Minsk as part of this important visit for both the sides. For the majority of them it is their first familiarization with the country. I would like to mention that Belarus provides numerous opportunities for doing business. We need to study every existing possibility and prospect of developing the Belarusian-Indian ties,” the Ambassador said. According to the diplomat, a big number of professors and scientific specialists have arrived in Belarus as well. They have already signed seven agreements on cooperation with the leading educational establishments of Belarus. Manoj Kumar Bharti expressed confidence that the opening of the Department of Indian Studies at the Belarusian State University as well as the Center of Indian Culture in Minsk would be a good result in strengthening educational ties between the two countries.

According to the Ambassador, the cooperation between India and Belarus has recently strengthened, and the number of Indian visas issued to Belarusians testifies to the fact. Thus, in 2014 the number of issued visas exceeded 8,900, up 17% from 2013.

“We also see an increasing interest in the Indian culture and dances among the Belarusian youth. There are a lot of schools of Indian dances and yoga in Minsk and other big cities. We plan to showcase about 35 yoga schools of the Belarusian capital and other cities at International Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June,” the diplomat stressed.

The Indian Ambassador is confident that the high-level visit to Minsk would result in a considerable strengthening of bilateral cooperation. Manoj Kumar Bharti pointed out Pranab Mukherjee’s great diplomatic experience and talent. Thanks to the President of India the country has been making impressive progress in its development.

The event was attended by the President of India, Belarus’ Premier Andrei Kobyakov, Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko, heads of Belarusian ministries and departments and the Indian delegation. Partaking in the meeting were representatives of the artistic intelligentsia and the Belarus-India Friendship Society. Deputy Chairman of the society, well-known Belarusian artist Georgy Poplavsky presented the Indian President with a portrait of poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.