Myanmar, Russia vow to promote ties

YANGON - Myanmar and the Russian Federation have vowed to promote bilateral ties including trade, economic and defense cooperation between the two countries, official media reported Tuesday.

It was pledged when Myanmar Vice-President U Nyan Tun met with visiting Russian Defense Minister General Sergey K Shoigu in Nay Pyi Taw Monday, said the New Light of Myanmar.

In another meeting with Shoigu, Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing thanked the Russia Federation for extending assistance to Myanmar, calling on Russia to contribute to ensuring world peace.

Shoigu outlined plans to admit Myanmar students to Moscow State University as part of further cooperation with Myanmar.

Shoigu's current visit to Myanmar is the second to the Southeast Asian nation after the first ever visit of a Russian defense minister to the country 50 years ago.

In January this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov visited Myanmar and met with Myanmar President U Thein Sein.

Both sides vowed fostering amity and friendship between the two countries, human resources development and technology and further cooperation in research in health and education

Lavrov also had talks with his Myanmar counterpart U Wunna Maung Lwin on enhancing cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, information, culture, sports, health, education, science and technology, defense and security, tourist, mining and energy, human resources development and capacity building.

Myanmar and Russia established diplomatic ties in 1948 and the relations have turned 65th anniversary.