Russian President Vladimir Putin and Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing held talks in Moscow about deepening diplomatic, defence, energy and investment ties.
The two leaders spoke on Thursday on the sidelines of the World Atomic Week 2025, according to government releases.
The general told Putin that Myanmar planned to open a consulate in Vladivostok in the near future, on top of its embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg and Novosibirsk, according to a Kremlin release.
“Looking east and west, you have a very large territory, so we’re opening consulates-general for Myanmar to facilitate further cooperation between our countries,” Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying in the statement.
Sanctioned by the US and other Western nations, Myanmar’s military regime is deepening ties with longtime partners Russia and China as it seeks membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
After attending a forum in Moscow, Min Aung Hlaing will next travel to Kazakhstan, a SCO member.
Thursday’s talks also covered defence and broader cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy, electricity, health and pharmaceutical production, agriculture and education, according to Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council.
Min Aung Hlaing also reiterated his plan to hold general elections in December and to invite observers. — Bloomberg
