India, Belarus hold 8th round of talks

India and Belarus held the eighth round of inter-ministerial consultations in Minsk, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties across political, economic and humanitarian areas.The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sibi George, while the Belarusian side was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Shestakov.

During the visit, the Indian delegation met Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, who reaffirmed Minsk’s commitment to deepen engagement with New Delhi in political, economic, and cultural fields.

According to the officials, both sides acknowledged the growing intensity of bilateral contacts despite global geopolitical turbulence, highlighting the “high level of mutual trust and support” between the two countries. The talks, they said, provided a foundation for further expansion of cooperation.

"The discussions covered a wide range of issues, including enhancing political dialogue, boosting mutual trade and manufacturing collaboration, and expanding the legal framework governing bilateral relations," said an official.

The two sides also discussed cooperation within international platforms such as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and BRICS.

The consultations further explored the possibility of strengthening people-to-people ties through direct bilateral engagements in humanitarian areas.

Belarus and India also agreed that the existing potential for cooperation was not being fully realised and identified several new areas of mutual interest.