Myanmar is Russia's strategic partner in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim region, with defense cooperation being a key element of bilateral relations, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday
KUBINKA (Moscow Region) (Pakistan Point news / Sputnik - 21st August, 2018) Myanmar is Russia's strategic partner in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim region, with defense cooperation being a key element of bilateral relations, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
"We regard Myanmar as Russia's strategic partner in Southeast Asia and in the Pacific Rim region ... Cooperation in the defense sector is a key element of the entirety of Russian-Myanmar relations," Shoigu said at a meeting with Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Hlaing said that the Russian-Myanmar military and defense industry cooperation was enhancing every year.
"It's a pleasure for me to say that our team participated in the International Army Games [in Russia in 2018]. Participation in these games gives us a huge basis for gaining experience in cooperating with the Russian army," he said.
The bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries is intense, with Myanmar having purchased six Russian Yak-130 combat training aircraft over the past two years and planning to purchase six Su-30 fighter jets.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry, Myanmar's exported $239 million worth of Russian goods in 2016, with machinery, equipment and vehicles accounting for over 78 percent of all exports.
