When it comes to bilateral ties, India and Belarus enjoy a comprehensive partnership. With the NDA Government now back with greater majority, where do you see ties going as we move forward?

The Belarusian-Indian relations are an example of the practical embodiment of equal and mutually respectful cooperation between States of different size and economic potential. The Republic of Belarus develops comprehensive relations with India, based on the principles of friendship, high trust and mutual benefit. For us, the Republic of India is a key partner in the South Asian region.

Relations with India throughout the history of independent Belarus are characterized by constructive political dialogue, positive dynamics of trade and economic relations, scientific and technical cooperation, and constant mutual support in the international arena. The ties of friendship are strengthened, including through the exchange of visits at the highest and high levels. The President of the Republic of Belarus visited the Republic of India three times (in 1997, 2007, 2017). Heads of the Belarusian Government, Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other republican bodies of state administration of Belarus also paid visits to New Delhi.

Official visits to Belarus were made by the President of India, heads of a number of Indian state structures. In June 2018, Speaker of the Lok Sabha of Parliament of India H.E. Mrs Sumitra Mahajan visited Minsk. During the visit, an Agreement on cooperation between the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and Lok Sabha of the Parliament of the Republic of India was signed.

The issue of establishing an inter-parliamentary friendship group is being worked out. On the Belarusian side, a working group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of India has been established in the National Assembly of the sixth convocation. I am sure that in the near future a similar group will be formed in the Parliament of India of the 17thconvocation. The honorary consulates of the Republic of Belarus in the cities of Kolkata and Mumbai contribute to the development of bilateral relations within their competence.