India, Belarus to enhance bilateral ties

NEW DELHI: India and Belarus today agreed to enhance their bilateral ties especially in the field of trade and economy.

India also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interests with Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordering Russia during the meeting of Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, an official statement said.

Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei is on a three-day visit to India on the invitation of Swaraj.

Makei held delegation level talks with EAM and also called on President Pranab Mukherjee.

The two Ministers discussed bilateral issues including high level political engagement, trade and investment, science and technology, defence, energy and culture, the statement said.

India and Belarus enjoy friendly and mutually beneficial relations in various fields.

"The two ministers agreed to work together to further enhance these relations. They also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest," it said.

Swaraj thanked the visiting Foreign Minister for his government's support at the UN to adopt June 21 as the International Yoga Day and for the celebration of the first International Yoga Day this year in Minsk.

The Belarus Foreign Minister, who is accompanied by a 3-member business delegation representing prominent Belarus state enterprises dealing in potash, fertilisers, dumper trucks and tractors, also met representatives of Indian business and industry.