A 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% 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 Organization, 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.

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