The meeting took place as part of the official visit by President of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing to Russia.
Mikhail Mishustin meets with President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing
Mikhail Mishustin meets with President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing
Mikhail Mishustin meets with President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing
Mikhail Mishustin meets with President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing
President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing during the meeting with Mikhail Mishustin
Mikhail Mishustin meets with President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing
Excerpts from the transcript:
Greetings, Mr Min Aung Hlaing. Welcome to the Government House of the Russian Federation.
This is your first official visit to the Russian Federation as President of Myanmar. I am convinced that the strategic agreements that are expected to be reached at the highest level will give a new impetus to strengthening cooperation between Russia and Myanmar.
In fact, Myanmar is Russia’s major partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Entrenched traditions of friendship, mutual respect and the commitment to taking each other’s interests into account form the backbone of our relations.
We believe that there are effective opportunities for stepping up bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation. In our view, it is instrumental that we create a favourable environment for carrying out joint projects in manufacturing, energy, transport infrastructure and agricultural production.
Russia suggests stepping up cooperation in high technology and stands ready to share with our partners in Myanmar cutting-edge solutions in digital economics, promoting autonomous electronic systems and using artificial intelligence.
The Russia-Myanmar Intergovernmental Commission works on specific matters dealing with our cooperation. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov chairs its Russian part.
We attach special importance to investment. Russian companies intend to work with Dawei Special Economic Zone in Myanmar. This major project could enable us to expand mutual trade and create new jobs, including in SMEs.
We are also about to embark on an effort to carry out agreements on building a small nuclear power plant in Myanmar. This project will serve as a powerful impetus for promoting cooperation in related sectors, including fundamental and applied research. It will also serve as a symbol of Russia-Myanmar friendship.
I would like to say a few words about our humanitarian cooperation. We believe that personnel training must be one of the key tracks. More than 7,000 students from Myanmar graduated from Russian universities and acquired professions that enjoy the biggest demand. We are interested in expanding tourist flows. There is an ongoing effort to implement an intergovernmental agreement on mutual visa-free travel. Signed in October of last year, it enabled people from our two countries to travel between them for up to 30 days without visas. I am convinced that tourists will be eager to discover Russia’s and Myanmar’s unique nature, culture and spiritual traditions.
Mr Min Aung Hlaing, you now have the floor. Go ahead, please.
Min Aung Hlaing (via interpreter): Mr Mishustin,
First and foremost, I would like to express my pleasure at the opportunity to meet with you once again and to hold substantive discussions.
This is my 14th visit to Russia and constitutes my first official state visit since my inauguration as President.
During our meeting in March 2025, we discussed the expansion of bilateral collaboration across a variety of sectors, including investment, education, trade, and agriculture.
At this meeting, we may engage, in a cordial and frank atmosphere, on matters concerning mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.
Mr Mishustin, diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Russia, established in 1948, have now endured for 78 years. As we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2028, I would like to propose holding a special commemorative ceremony for our two countries.
Military and technical collaboration between the armed forces of our two countries has equally contributed to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
With a view to broadening cooperation between our countries, a new Consulate General of Myanmar will be established by Russia in Vladivostok in the near future.
We would also like to express our support should Russia open its Consulate General in the city of Mandalay.
It is not solely the relations between the central governments of Myanmar and Russia that are advancing; interactions at the regional government level are likewise intensifying.
The heads of Tatarstan, Buryatia, Kalmykia, St Petersburg, and Novosibirsk have undertaken visits to Myanmar and have fostered cooperation not only between Myanmar and Russia, but also between various regions. On this occasion, I will also be visiting the Republic of Tyva.
Sister-city ties have been formalised between Novosibirsk and Mandalay, accompanied by the signing of a cooperation plan between the two cities for 2026–2028.
We successfully held the Days of St Petersburg celebrations in Yangon and Naypyidaw in October 2025, which underscored the strength of our partnership with Russia. In addition, efforts are underway to conclude an agreement on cooperation between Yangon and St Petersburg. Such collaboration clearly attests to the traditional friendship and mutual respect between our countries.
Mr Mishustin, the present moment represents a highly propitious opportunity to accelerate cooperation between Russia and Myanmar. Coordination is actively underway between the competent authorities of both sides for the effective implementation of major projects, such as the construction of a small nuclear power plant, the creation of a deep-sea port in Dawei and a special economic zone, the construction of an oil refinery and a coal-fired power station, the establishment of a metallurgical plant in Pang Pet, and the construction of an organic fertiliser plant.
Considering the strategic location of the port in Dawei within the region, Russia has been invited to express its interest in the project. Should these initiatives be successfully realised, they will generate employment opportunities for a significant number of people and contribute to the economic advancement of both nations.
Indeed, this represents a form of land bridge connecting East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Its geographical position linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans will, in time, render it a pivotal hub of maritime transport. Furthermore, its centrality within a region inhabited by over 3.2 billion people opens up significant opportunities for expanding trade.
We must intensify efforts to further augment the volume of bilateral trade.
The fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Myanmar and Russia convened in Naypyidaw in February 2025. The sixth meeting is anticipated to take place in Russia.
We trust that, as a result of this engagement, bilateral trade will be enhanced, enabling Myanmar to export seafood in addition to agricultural products.
I wish to inform you that a delegation led by Vice-President Nyo Saw will participate in the 11th Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held in Vladivostok.
To facilitate trade and economic collaboration between our countries, we have proposed the establishment of a Myanmar-Russia trade house in Moscow. Similarly, the Roscongress Foundation has proposed the opening of a trade house and energy infrastructure within the special economic zone in Yangon, as well as the establishment of a branch in Mandalay. The prompt, reciprocal establishment of such trade representations would facilitate even closer cooperation within the trade sector.
Education represents the cornerstone of human resource development, which is in turn the principal engine of progress.
I am confident that Russia can provide unequivocal support for improving the quality of education in Myanmar.
Since 2001, Myanmar has been sending its students to Russian universities. In total, over 6,800 Myanmar nationals have received degrees. More than 430 students are currently enrolled.
I am pleased to inform you that the conferral of degrees by Russian universities is contributing significantly to the development of our country.
