Alyaksandr Lukashenka, during a meeting with India’s Ambassador Ashok Kumar, conveyed another invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Belarus.
“We would be glad to welcome Prime Minister Modi to Belarus. We are always ready to receive him, we are waiting for him in Belarus, as is the entire Belarusian people. I am sure Belarusians would like to see the prime minister here — a very experienced, competent, and highly influential person,” he said, according to his press service.
Lukashenka also noted that he has warm and friendly relations with the Prime Minister of India.
“We constantly communicate at international platforms, as was the case recently in China at the SCO meetings,” he added.
Lukashenka visited India in 2017. Since then, he has regularly renewed his invitation for Narendra Modi to visit Belarus.
Speaking about the development of relations between Belarus and India, he noted the growth in trade turnover and said he aims to raise it to 2–3 billion dollars.
“The issue of cooperation between Belarus and India is highly relevant now and under special control. We have not yet implemented everything or even come close to realizing the opportunities we have today. Although we have doubled our trade turnover, reaching 500 million dollars, in our relations this is almost nothing. The target we aim for — 2–3 billion dollars in annual trade — is quite realistic and achievable. Therefore, the main issue is to intensify our cooperation,” he said.
“Our foreign minister will report on the measures being taken in this direction. But we would like the Indian side to join this process of activating our trade relations in a substantive way. I know you can do it. We have accumulated great experience and a long history of our relations since Soviet times. Therefore, we would like to strengthen our trade and economic cooperation with you,” Lukashenka continued.
He also reminded of humanitarian cooperation.
“We started with cinema — naturally, because this field is highly developed in your country. At the Listapad festival, your films are represented. We thank you for taking part in this,” he said.
Lukashenka thanked India for participating in the Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. He said he noticed it and greatly appreciated it.
“In short, Mr. Ambassador, there are many interesting areas from which we can further boost our trade and economic cooperation. The economy is the foundation for strengthening our interaction in other fields,” he concluded.
Lukashenka also pledged support for India’s chairmanship of BRICS.
“We are ready to work with you under your BRICS chairmanship and to do everything necessary to make it successful. We are grateful for the help and support you provided during our accession to the SCO, as well as for your partnership in BRICS. We are happy to rely on your assistance and support — and you have never refused us that assistance,” he added.
Belarus holds the status of a partner country in BRICS.