Cooperation program on culture, arts and education signed between Belarus and India

The program on cooperation between the Governments of Belarus and India on culture, arts and education for 2014-2016 was signed in Minsk as of 17 October 2013. The signing ceremony took place at the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater. The document was signed by Culture Minister of Belarus Boris Svetlov and his Indian counterpart Chandresh Kumari Katoch.

Belarus and India has been developing cultural relations since 1993, when the bilateral agreement on culture, sport, education and information was signed. After a while the agreement was amended and a new document was signed. This document was in force until 2009. The signing of a new cooperation agreement proves the establishment of a good platform and a legal framework for the expansion of cultural ties between the two countries.

The ministers discussed areas in which the two countries could develop mutually beneficial cooperation. In particular, they discussed an opportunity of holding Belarus’ Cultural Days in India in 2014 and India’s Cultural Days in Belarus in 2015. Apart from that India shows big interest in cooperation between national libraries and an exchange of folklore ensembles. Also, India is interested in holding Belarusian and Indian film weeks on the territory of the two countries.