Relations with India mutually reawrding: Belarus

Moscow, Apr 4 (PTI) Describing India as a "world leader,"
Belarus has said the "stable and friendly" relations with the
country were mutually rewarding and beneficial.

"We consider India a world leader and a power in Asia.
The relations with India had been cordial and friendly from
the Soviet times," Lukashenka told the new Indian Ambassador
to Minsk, Ramesh Chander.

In his conversation with Chander at a credential ceremony
in the capital Minsk yesterday, Belarus President Alexander
Lukashenka also said the Mumbai carnage was a matter of
concern to Belarus and to the entire international community.

Underscoring that cordial relations exist between Minsk
and New Delhi since the Soviet times, he said, "the stable and
friendly relations with India were mutually rewarding and
beneficial".

The Belarus President, who visited India two years ago
also expressed satisfaction that the high level contacts
between the two countries were excellent.

Belarus, a founder-member of the United Nations has
repeatedly backed India's stake on a permanent berth in the
expanded Security Council.

With a trade turnover of about USD 450 million, bilateral
economic and commercial cooperation is on an upswing, and both
countries are interested in exploring new areas of
cooperation, the Indian embassy in Minsk said. PTI VS
SAK
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