MGR Online — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is willing to cooperate with Myanmar in the exploration of natural resources and the extraction of oil and gas, including offshore projects, stressing that the energy sector is a key area of bilateral cooperation. The Russian leader made these remarks during a joint press appearance with Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing.
President Putin said that Russia–Myanmar relations are founded on a long-standing friendship, while bilateral cooperation rests on the principles of fairness, mutual respect, and shared interests. He said the Soviet Union had provided assistance to Myanmar in the social, economic, and defence spheres during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Russian leader also said that large-scale infrastructure projects built in Myanmar during the Soviet era, including hospitals and universities, continue to benefit the people of Myanmar to this day.
"First and foremost, I would like to say that Russia–Myanmar relations continue to develop and grow stronger. There are contacts across many areas between the governments of the two countries. The foreign ministries of both countries maintain systematic communication and relations. In addition, there are ongoing consultations and dialogue between the security councils, parliaments, and political parties," President Putin said.
He added that projects benefiting both countries are under way, and that international issues were also raised and discussed during the meeting.
During this visit by the Myanmar leader to Russia, several agreements were signed between the governments and relevant agencies of Russia and Myanmar, with economic cooperation remaining a key focus.
President Putin said that the two countries have a reliable and robust payment system built on mutual trust, while the energy sector remains an important area of cooperation. He noted that coal-fired power plant and oil refinery projects are currently under way in Myanmar.
"Russia is willing to cooperate in the exploration of natural resources and the extraction of oil and gas in Myanmar, including in offshore areas. There is also significant potential for Russia to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Myanmar. This liquefied natural gas can be used domestically and exported to other countries," the Russian leader said.
Last year, Russia and Myanmar signed an agreement to build a nuclear power plant in Myanmar, which Putin described as an important project for the two countries.
"There is also potential for many more projects in the industrial and transport sectors. For example, a steel plant and a fertiliser plant are currently under construction in Myanmar. We are discussing a deep-sea port construction project in southern Myanmar, and we are also discussing cooperation in the field of high technology. Russian companies have many proposals and plans in the areas of digital technology, cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies for Myanmar," Putin said.
On space cooperation, Putin said that the two countries signed a mutual cooperation agreement in 2025 and are implementing various projects in this field. He also spoke of human resource development as an important foundation for bilateral cooperation.
He said that under the visa exemption agreement between the two countries, scientists, young people, tourists, and athletes have been travelling between Russia and Myanmar, and that a Myanmar consulate will open in Vladivostok soon. Meanwhile, Myanmar cultural and religious centres have already been established in the Altai and Kaluga regions and in Moscow.
President Putin also said that approval has been granted for the construction of a Russian Orthodox church in Yangon. He expressed his pleasure at the growing interest in the Russian language in Myanmar, noting that Russian is taught at universities in Yangon and Mandalay, as well as at military academies.
"Currently, 400 Myanmar students are studying at Russian universities, and a total of 17,000 Myanmar students have graduated from Russian universities. Russia and Myanmar share very similar views on international issues. Russia and Myanmar oppose interference in the internal affairs of countries and in the affairs of international organisations," President Putin said.
He added that military-technical cooperation between Russia and Myanmar is progressing well, that the two countries conduct military exercises in Myanmar's waters frequently, and that Russian warships also make regular visits to Myanmar.
President Putin also expressed his gratitude to the delegation led by President Min Aung Hlaing for visiting Russia, and said he was confident that this visit by the Myanmar leader would be a success. He also expressed hope that the agreements signed during this visit would provide important support to cooperation and partnership between Russia and Myanmar.
In total, 12 memoranda of understanding were signed between the two countries during President Min Aung Hlaing's visit.
