India and Belarus enjoy comprehensive relations across a large spectrum of areas
The official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik, to India from March 12 to 13, 2024, has provided a fresh impetus to the multifaceted relations between India and Belarus. In India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Aleinik engaged in a series of productive discussions with top Indian ministers, officials, and business leaders, underscoring the depth and breadth of the bilateral ties between the two nations.
 
In addition to EAM Jaishankar, he met Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, and Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers & Health and Family Welfare.
 
Additionally, a significant interaction with Vivek Joshi, Secretary Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, and the Indian business community facilitated by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) highlighted the visit's focus on expanding trade and cooperation.
 
The discussions between Foreign Minister Aleinik and EAM Jaishankar on March 12, 2024 emphasized the dynamic nature of India-Belarus relations, exploring avenues to enhance the development partnership and cooperation in key sectors such as trade, economy, insurance, defence, education, IT, and science & technology. Regional and global issues of mutual interest, as well as cooperation in multilateral groupings such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), were also addressed.
 
In his meeting with Mandaviya, the focus was placed on fostering cooperation in health, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers. Concurrently, talks with Goyal revolved around augmenting the bilateral economic partnership, with particular attention to manufacturing in sectors like electric vehicles (EVs), agricultural machinery, and harvesting equipment.
 
The Belarusian delegation also engaged with Indian business and industry through an interaction coordinated by FICCI on 12 March 2024.
 
India and Belarus enjoy comprehensive relations across a large spectrum of areas. They have established mechanisms for furthering bilateral cooperation and sharing views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest through Foreign Office Consultations, an Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and Joint Working Groups. 
 
The visit, building on the foundation laid by previous interactions, including late Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei's visit in November 2022, sets a promising trajectory for the future of India-Belarus relations. As the two nations look forward to further enhancing their cooperation towards a strategic partnership, the outcomes of Foreign Minister Aleinik's visit offer a roadmap for deepening ties in a multitude of areas, fostering mutual growth and understanding.