India, Belarus agree to work closely to deepen bilateral ties

MINSK (BELARUS): India and Belarus have agreed to work closely in the fields of trade, commerce and culture to further deepen bilateral ties.

The decision was reached yesterday when Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, heading an Indian Parliamentary delegation, met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich here.

The Belarusian President told Kumar that the two countries are members of the UN, NAM and IPU and have commonality of views on almost all major international, multilateral and regional issues.

"The two leaders agreed to work in close cooperation in the fields of trade, commerce and culture to further deepen bilateral ties," a Lok Sabha release said.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also met Myasnikovich and said India is committed to work in close cooperation for the betterment of both the countries.

During the meeting, the Belarusian Prime Minister invited Indian investments in key areas of the economy and informed the delegation that the country wishes to grow at a greater pace as that of India and the same is possible when the two countries work in partnership.

The two sides signed an agreement on cooperation between the Lok Sabha and the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus envisaging enhanced cooperation and exchange of visits.

The Indian Parliamentary delegation, which is on a visit to Belarus from May 19-22, includes Members of Parliament Anant Geete, Kishan Chand Tyagi, Sanjay Singh Chauhan, Ram Shankar, Harish Choudhary, Avinash Pande and Secretary General of Lok Sabha T K Viswanathan.