India, Belarus ink six agreements during Mukherjee visit

 Minsk, June 3: India and Belarus on Wednesday inked six agreements, including a Roadmap for India-Belarus Cooperation as President Prab Mukherjee held talks here with Belarusian counterpart Alexander V. Lukashenko.

Besides the roadmap, the agreements include a protocol amending the agreement between the two sides for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Property (Capital) of September, 27, 1997.

A MoU was inked between Bureau of Indian Standards and Belarus’ State Committee for Standardization on cooperation in the field of standardization and information support, and another MoU between Prasar Bharati and the tiol State Television and Radio Company of Belarus (Belteleradiocompany) for cooperation on broadcasting.

Both sides also inked a MoU on cooperation between the Securities and Exchange Board of India and Belurusian ministry of fince and a MoU between India’s textiles ministry and the Belarusian State Concern for Manufacturing and Marketing of Light Industry Goods ‘Bellegprom’.

The roadmap seeks to further strengthen and intensify bilateral political, defence, trade and economic exchanges, cultural relations and people-to-people contacts as well as enhanced cooperation in intertiol forums. President Prab Mukherjee on Wednesday expressed “deep appreciation” for Belarus’ endorsement of India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat and for supporting India’s proposal to declare June 21 as Intertiol Day of Yoga. In his address at a luncheon banquet hosted by Belarus President Alexander V. Lukashenko, Mukherjee, who arrived in the Belarusian capital on Tuesday night, also expressed confidence that following his visit and discussions, bilateral ties would rise to even greater heights.

He reiterated that India remains committed to a deeper and more diversified relationship with Belarus. In his speech, the president said since the emergence of Belarus as an independent tion in 1991, India and Belarus have successfully developed their relationship based on friendship and mutual benefit and both share common approaches to intertiol issues. Cooperation between India and Belarus in the United tions and other multilateral fora, including in the Non-Aligned Movement has been close and fruitful, he said, adding: “This should continue.” (IANS)