Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation : Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu held talks with the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

22.01.2021 (09:15)

The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, held talks with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

'We consider today's talks as an opportunity for further development of cooperation, primarily in the military and military-technical spheres. Despite the limitations that our difficult time has brought us, we hope for further activation of relations between our defence departments, ' the head of the Russian military department said.

Sergei Shoigu noted that this is confirmed by the fact that this year he is making his first foreign visit to Myanmar.

The Russian Defence Minister stressed that Russia intends to continue to make efforts to strengthen the entire range of bilateral relations based on the mutual understanding, mutual respect and trust that has developed between the two states.

'I am sure that today's meeting will contribute to the development of all areas of our partnership in the military field. We are always open for a substantive conversation, ' the head of the Russian military department said.

Generalof the Army Sergei Shoigu also thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces for his personal assistance in returning Russians from the republic in the face of the pandemic.

'I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for personally helping Russian citizens who found themselves in the conditions of the pandemic in your country to return home. 19 people were taken on board a charter flight of the Myanmar Armed Forces, which provided for your visit to Moscow for the Victory Day Parade, ' the Russian Defence Minister said.

Sergei Shoigu also thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces for coming to Moscow for the celebrations on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

'This is our common holiday. We fought together against fascism, ' the head of the Russian military department stressed.

'We welcome the regular participation of Myanmar representatives in the authoritative events of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, including the Moscow Conference on International Security, the International Military-Technical Forum 'Army' and, of course, the International Army Games,' the Russian Defence Minister said.

Sergei Shoigu noted that a special milestone in strengthening military cooperation was the participation of Myanmar military personnel in the strategic command and staff exercise 'Kavkaz-2020'.

In turn, Min Aung Hlaine thanked the head of the Russian military department for the visit and said that Myanmar attaches great importance to this visit.

'Despite the long distances, our countries are very close. Russia, as a loyal friend, has always supported Myanmar in difficult times, especially in the last four years, ' said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

For reference:

Since 2001, Russia and Myanmar have established the entire legal framework for effective and mutually beneficial bilateral military-technical cooperation, which is developing dynamically. Russia has supplied Myanmar with 30 MiG-29 aircraft, 12 Yak-130 combat training aircraft, six Su-30SME, 10 Mi-24 and Mi-35P helicopters, 8 'Pechora-2M' anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as radar stations, armored vehicles and artillery systems. Maintenance and modernization of equipment is carried out in the joint service technical center established on the territory of Myanmar for the maintenance of all types of equipment, both aviation and armored vehicles.

Military cooperation between the two countries has also been developing intensively over the past five years. Units of the Myanmar Armed Forces regularly take part in International Army Games and combat training events, including last year they took part in the strategic command and staff exercise 'Kavkaz-2020'.

In addition, in 2018, an intergovernmental agreement was signed on a simplified procedure for calling warships at the ports of Russia and Myanmar.

The Leadership of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is also interested in other modern Russian weapons systems.

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