State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Head of the Republic of Buryatia Mr Aleksey Sambuyevich Tsydenov replied to questions raised by local media including Arigus, ATV and Tivicom. The full text of translated interview is as follows: –
Q: In recent years, many collaborative projects have been carried out between Russia and Myanmar. In particular, cooperation has taken place not only in the cultural sector but also across various fields. Among these, there have also been cooperative efforts involving Buryatia. Looking ahead, what areas of cooperation are planned between Buryatia and Myanmar?
The Senior General: Today, I visited a railway factory, and earlier I also visited an aircraft manufacturing plant. These are promising areas for cooperation between our two sides. Furthermore, in Buryatia, there are many people who practise Buddhism, and since Myanmar is also a Buddhist country, there is potential for collaboration in the area of Buddhism as well. There are also opportunities related to healthcare. Moreover, there has been an offer from the Prime Minister regarding learning education. So, we have a plan to cooperate in education. We may also move forward with discussions and activities related to agriculture. There are many areas to work on — what I want to emphasize is that there are numerous potential sectors for collaboration.
Q: Now that you are currently visiting Buryatia, as the His Excellency Prime Minister, how do you view Buryatia? What are your impressions regarding the beauty and cleanliness of Buryatia?
The Senior General: I feel extremely at peace being here. It’s such a pleasant and beautiful region. I feel like I’ve come to an environment that is familiar and close to Myanmar. This is actually my third visit, and every time I come, I feel a sense of familiarity, as if I’m visiting my own region. I would also like to say that I will try to come again in the future.
Q: As the Head of the Republic of Buryatia, how do you feel about the visit of the Prime Minister of Myanmar on this goodwill trip? And could you please share your thoughts regarding cooperation with Myanmar?
The Head of the Republic of Buryatia: Knowing that this is the Prime Minister’s third visit from Myanmar, I feel deeply honoured and pleased. His three times of visit show a clear reflection of how much he values and appreciates our region. I also hope that we will be able to implement many cooperative projects between our republic and Myanmar. In recent years, for example, our Rapid Bio pharmaceutical company has been working on registering and exporting medical products and technologies to Myanmar. Moreover, the helicopters produced at Ulan-Ude plant have been used in Myanmar for many years. They are still in use today, and we are planning further cooperation in the future, particularly in areas related to transportation and helicopter services. Today, representatives from TMH Holding also presented their products and explained the items they produce. Looking to the future, there are also plans to discuss and pursue cooperation with Myanmar in this area. Regarding educational cooperation, we are planning to offer advanced training programmes for Myanmar teachers who teach the Russian language. These programmes could be held here in Buryatia. In addition, at one of our universities in Buryatia, we are working towards establishing a Myanmar language department to offer Myanmar language courses. Today, I personally accompanied and arranged the visit of our special guests from Myanmar around the lake. Back in December of last year, I myself led a delegation to Myanmar. During that visit, we were warmly welcomed by the people of Myanmar. What I want to express is that not only I, but all members of our delegation were deeply impressed by the beauty and cultural richness of Myanmar. That is why we are planning to further enhance the tourism sector between our two countries through mutual exchanges.
The Senior General: I would like to invite your media teams to visit Myanmar to explore and learn more. While your regional leader has already provided a general overview of the situation in Myanmar, when you come in person, I believe you’ll gain a deeper and more meaningful experience. I truly believe that before long, we will be seeing your faces in Myanmar.
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