Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) – India highly values the friendship and cooperation with Belarus, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said at a solemn reception organized by the Indian embassy in Minsk on 3 June to mark the first visit of the Indian head of state to Belarus, BelTA informs.

“It is a great honor for me to be the first President of India to visit your wonderful country. While in Minsk I was lucky to meet and talk with Belarus’ outstanding figures in politics, education, science and technology, industry, culture and sport. Today I had a fruitful talk with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Premier Andrei Kobyakov. The results of the meetings consolidated my belief that traditionally warm friendly relations and cooperation between India and Belarus would continue developing and strengthening,” Pranab Mukherjee said.

“Common interests of Belarus and India in science and technology, joint activities in information technology and design, cooperation in the energy sector and pharmaceutics as well as close collaboration in the defense area have led the two countries to a long-term, fruitful and mutually beneficial partnership. By strengthening cooperation in the abovementioned fields we continue exploring new cooperation areas with the focus on renewable energy resources, manufacturing, mining industry and professional training,” the President of India stressed.

India is a rapidly developing economy and an expanding market for investors and business partners, a wonderful country with a rich culture and an unbelievable variety of regions for tourists and scientists. The government of India has been implementing initiatives on the use of important resources for the growth of all economic sectors and the society through investment generation, upgrading the production sector and assisting the enhancement of qualifications.

“We hope for active participation of all out partners and friends in India and beyond its borders in the achievement of desired goals. Belarus has deep knowledge in many of these areas and, in particular, in mechanical engineering, urban development, professional training, manufacturing and technology. I would like to emphasize that Indian companies want to develop cooperation with Belarus with these sectors as well,” Pranab Mukherjee said.

Another important goal of the visit is to strengthen mutually beneficial ties between the leading scientific communities and institutes of India and Belarus. “I am glad that the Belarusian-Indian educational center in information and communications technologies has been successfully functioning since January 2012. Over the time many Belarusian IT specialists have undergone professional training in the center. Belarus is popular with Indian students. We need to continue establishing relations in the education sector. It will be a so-called investment in capacity building for the future generations,” the Indian leader said.

Pranab Mukherjee was pleasantly surprised that Belarus highly values the Indian culture and traditions. Many Belarusians take up classical Indian dances and music. The President also took note of Belarusian professors’ interest in ancient manuscripts of India. Indian athletes also can benefit from closer cooperation between the two countries in sport.

“We hope for further cooperation between the two countries. Representatives of the Indian diaspora in Belarus, including our students, feel at home in Belarus. It is because of the friendly people of Belarus. I would like to call on the representatives of the Indian diaspora that live here to continue promoting the development of Belarus. I am confident they will play an invaluable role in strengthening friendly relations between India and Belarus,” Pranab Mukherjee added.