THE Myanmar delegation, led by Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Mya Tun Oo, attended the 10th Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok, the Russian Federation, from 3 to 6 September, and also held discussions to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Union minister was accompanied by Union Ministers for Finance and Revenue, Electric Power, Energy, Industry, and Health, the Myanmar Ambassador to the Russian Federation, relevant ministry officials, and the Vice-President of the Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
On 3 and 4 September, the Myanmar delegation met Mr Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation; Mr Shatirov Sergey Vladimirovich, Honorary Consul of Myanmar to the Russian Federation and Director of the Roscongress Investment Fund; Mr Sholban Valerievich Kara-Ool, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma; and Mr Ivan Viktorovich Polyakov, Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Economic Council.
The two sides discussed close cooperation between Myanmar and Russia, preparations for the upcoming elections in Myanmar, matters related to enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, the progress and plans of cooperation with the Roscongress Investment Fund of Russia, including transport and communications, finance, agriculture, electricity, energy, industry, and health, the promotion of bilateral tourism, overall cooperation between Myanmar and Russia, and economic cooperation between Russia and ASEAN countries, including initiatives to increase trade and investment in rice, coffee, mangoes, seafood products, and electricity and energy.
On 5 September, Union Minister U Mya Tun Oo received Ms Lidia Filatova, Director of Synergy International Recruitment Agency, the Russian Federation, and discussed the progress of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Myanmar and Russia on labour cooperation, opportunities for citizens seeking to work abroad, and collaboration in training programmes.
The Myanmar delegation then met Mr Maksim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and had a frank and open exchange of views on issues related to the decisions of the Fifth Russia-Myanmar Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the progress of Myanmar-Russia economic cooperation, the implementation of the bilateral cooperation roadmap, and cooperation in the energy and industrial development sectors.
In the afternoon, the Myanmar delegation participated in the Main Forum Plenary Session, the main event of the 10th Eastern Economic Forum, which was addressed by the President of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Putin.
After the plenary session, Union Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr Kan Zaw and the Union Minister for Energy U Ko Ko Lwin met with Mr Maksim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and officials from Gazprom Company to discuss investment opportunities in Myanmar’s promising oil and gas blocks, energy trading possibilities such as the LNG Hub using existing deep-sea ports and pipelines, and further cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries.
On 6 September, Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win visited the Medical Centre in Vladivostok and discussed the hospital’s medical treatment conditions, the participation of international medical students, and the possibility of sending students from Myanmar for medical practice.
The Eastern Economic Forum has been held annually since 2015, aiming to establish contacts between the Russian Federation and investment institutions and to serve as a platform for international cooperation in the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region. The 10th Eastern Economic Forum was attended by more than 7,000 heads of state, government officials, experts, and private businesspeople from 75 countries. The Myanmar delegation, led by the Union Minister for Transport and Communications, returned to Myanmar by air on the afternoon of 8 September. — MNA/TH
