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.