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A message by Russian Ambassador,
Mr. Mikhail M. MgeladzeA message by Russian Ambassador,
Mr. Mikhail M. Mgeladze
On the occasion of the National Day of Russia, I wish to convey my
warm greetings and congratulations to the friendly people of Myanmar
and to all the Russian nationals residing in this beautiful country.
Russian government under the leadership of the President Vladimir V.
Putin, has undertaken a series programmes transforming Russia into
an economy more integrated with the world. Our GDP has being growing
steadily at more then six per cent year over the past five years. In
2006, GDP grew to $1018 billion nominally, export grew to $304
billion, import to $164 billion; foreign trade surplus grew 19% to
$141 billion. Oil and gas made up 60% of total Russian exports.
Knowing the importance of oil and gas to the economy, the
Stabilization Fund of the Russian Federation was formed by the
government in January 2004. This fund takes in revenues from oil and
gas exports and is designed to help offset oil market volatility.
For the year of 2007, Russia's GDP is projected to grow to about
$1.2 trillion nominally that would make Russia the second largest
economy in Europe.
As a Eurasian power, Russia is continuing to strengthen political
and economic connectivity with Asia Pacific Region. It supports the
active role of regional multinational organizations and forums. They
include APEC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Association
of South-East Asia nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN Regional Forum. The
priority task today is to unite and coordinate their efforts.
Russia has been a dialogue partner of the Association of South-East
Asia nations (ASEAN) since 1996. On December 2005, the first
ASEAN-Russia summit resulted in the signing of the agreement on
economic and development cooperation. Under the agreement both
parties are expected to facilitate the exchange of information
regarding trade, investment and joint studies on economic issues.
The two parties had entrusted the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation
Committee to oversee the implementation of the pact. They also set
up the ASEAN-Russian Federation Dialogue Partnership Financial Fund
for economic cooperation. The summit and the 2-nd ASEAN-Russia
business forum opened additional possibilities for diversification
of the dialogue, gave a strong impulse to deepening the relations
between representatives of business and public circles, figures of
science and culture.
The actual history of Russia-Myanmar diplomatic relationship
embraces the period of 60 years. The ambassadors of the two
countries exchanged notes establishing diplomatic relationship on
February 18, 1948 in the embassy of the Soviet Union in London.
The first top level delegation exchange took place in 1955. U Nu
visited the Soviet Union in October 1955 to meet Soviet leaders
Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin. Khrushchev made the return
visit to Burma in December 1955. Top-level contacts became regular
after Khrushchev visited Burma again in 1960. By that time a trade
agreement had been signed between the two countries propelling a
mutually beneficial economic cooperation based primarily on "Burmese
rice in exchange for Soviet equipment" contracts. The Soviet Union
constructed the Yangon Technical University, Inya Lake Hotel and Sao
San hospital in Taunggyi in Shan state.
The economic ties, which have grown over the past several years,
were consolidated following a landmark visit by Vice-Chairman of the
State Peace and Development Council Vice-Senior General Maung Aye to
Russia in April 2006 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the
Russian Federation Mikhail Fradkov. The visit was the first by a
Myanmar such high level official in almost 40 years. As a result of
the visit a string of agreements on bilateral cooperation and
memorandum of understanding between the Union of Myanmar Federation
of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and its Russian counterpart
were signed. The agreements and MOU should help the two business
communities to establish closer cooperation and learn about their
export and import options.
The economic relations would also be boosted by a project started by
the Russian government-owned enterprise, Tyazhpromexport, to
establish a plant to produce cast iron in Shan State. Russian
companies has signed a production sharing contract with Myanmar Oil
and Gas Enterprise of Ministry of Energy to explore oil and gas
reserves. Myanmar students enjoy the opportunity to receive the high
education in Russia. Now there are about 1500 students studying in
11 institutions in Russia. About 500 Myanmar students with bachelor,
master and doctorate degrees have already returned to Myanmar.
Similar or identical approaches of Russia and Myanmar towards the
major international and regional issues contributed to restoring the
high level of politic relationship and active multilateral diplomacy
cooperation. We come out in favour of strengthening the central role
of the United Nations and its Security Council in issues of
maintenance of peace, pooling efforts of the world community in
fight with international terrorism. Russian Government holds that
Myanmar issue is the Myanmar internal affair which should be solved
by the Myanmar people through consultation and dialogue. The regular
consultations between the Foreign Ministries of our countries,
conducted in accordance with the corresponding protocol signed in
1999, allow us to coordinate our positions on the major challenges
of today's world and exchange the important information relating to
interior policy.
Overall, the partnership between
Russia
and Myanmar has stood the
test of time. We are confident that our relations will be
strengthened further in the years to come.
In foreign relations, Russia stands for developing long-term, stable
and cooperative relations with Myanmar.
After the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR) in December 1991, the newly-independent Russian Federation
became the USSR’s successor state in diplomatic matters and a
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The area,
population, and industrial production of the Russian Soviet
Federative Socialist Republic, the largest republic of the USSR,
passed on to the Russian Federation. Russia is the leading nation of
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a member of the G8 as
well as other international organisations.
With the Soviet Union dissolution in the beginning of the 90's the
relations between our countries were almost reduced to full stop.
However, the Russian Federation, the successor of the USSR, didn't
lose its interest towards the distant Myanmar; instead, it found a
will to restore the former partnership and promote its further
development.
The Russian civilisation is based on the moral values that our
people have forged over the more than 1,000 year’s of their history.
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