Top Indian and Belarus officials met in Minsk for the Consular Dialogue on June 28, when they discussed issues ranging from the welfare of Indian students in Belarus to enhancing tourism between the two countries.
“The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Aman Puri, JS (CPV), while the Belarusian delegation was led by Mr. Andrei Kozhan, Head of General Directorate for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The visiting Indian delegation also met with senior officials of the Belarusian Ministry of Sports and Tourism as well as representatives of the Indian student community in Belarus.
The two sides agreed to follow up on the decisions of the Dialogue and review them at the next edition of the India-Belarus Consular Dialogue which will be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial. India was one of the first countries to recognise Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
Formal diplomatic relations were established and the Indian diplomatic mission was opened in Minsk in 1992, with the first Resident Ambassador joining in January 1993, followed by the opening of the Belarusian Embassy in New Delhi in 1998.
Belarus opened its Honorary Consulate in Kolkata in December 2002, and in Mumbai in September 2018. In August 2022, the new Belarusian Consulate General in Mumbai was inaugurated.
Bilateral relations between India and Belarus are marked by broad understanding on issues of mutual interest.
The two countries enjoy a comprehensive partnership and have established mechanisms for exchanging views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through Foreign Office Consultations, the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation, and other thematic bilateral mechanisms.