Myanmar intends to expand its military cooperation with Russia, said Commander-In-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in an interview with Sputnik, a Russian government-run news agency.
"We will create a new partnership, [and] will expand it. From the outset, our [military] cooperation was designed so that it would expand over time. That is why during that meeting, we were mostly discussing expanding the existing cooperation," the Senior General said.
Last week, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended an international military conference in Moscow and met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
During the meeting, Shoigu noted that Myanmar is a "time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region", while Hlaing said, "our military has become one of the strongest in the region thanks to Russia."
Min Aung Hlaing also said Myanmar’s military had become one of the strongest in the region thanks to Russia.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, also chairman of the State Administration Council, arrived back in Nay Pyi Taw from Russia on the night of June 27.
During the visit to Russia, the Senior General attended and participated in the discussions of the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security-2021 (MCIS-2021), held meetings with military and civilian officials and visited significant places in the Russian Federation, universities and factories to talk about friendly relations between the two governments and two armed forces, and further enhancement of military technology sector, science and technology sector, research sector, human resource development sector and culture sector, according to a press release issued by the Myanmar military.
The delegation led by the Senior General arrived back at Nay Pyi Taw military airport at about 11 pm yesterday. They were welcomed back by Vice-Chairman of the Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Council members, Union ministers, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army), the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Myanmar Mr. Nikolay A.Listopadov and officials.
The delegation also included State Administration Council member Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, joint secretary Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Mayor Dr Maung Maung Naing, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Than Aung Kyaw and officials.
