MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on March 4, while the latter is on an official visit to Russia, the Kremlin press service said on Friday.
"The parties will discuss prospects for continued development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Myanmar, as well as relevant international matters," it said.
Upon the conclusion of the talks, the leaders of Russia and Myanmar plan to issue a joint statement and sign a number of intergovernmental and interagency documents, it said.
Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov visited Myanmar on February 22-23, where the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was held.
During the visit, Reshetnikov met with Min Aung Hlaing. The parties discussed bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of bilateral investment infrastructural projects and trade and economic interaction.
Apart from that, Reshetnikov and Investments and Foreign Economic Relations Minister Kan Zaw of Myanmar signed a memorandum on investment cooperation in the Dawei Special Economic Zone.
"The text of the memorandum contains the basic parameters of several major infrastructure and energy projects implemented in Myanmar in cooperation with Russian companies," Reshetnikov said.
At the conclusion of the intergovernmental commission meeting, Reshetnikov said also that an agreement on visa-free travel between the two countries was nearing completion and might be signed as early as in March. At present, only Russian citizens can travel to Myanmar visa-free.
"Russian citizens can enter Myanmar without any visa unilaterally. Myanmar citizens can come to us via an e-visa. And this agreement envisages the complete visa waiver on both sides for trips up to 30 days," Reshetnikov said.
The central banks of Russia and Myanmar also discussed steps to increase the number of points in Myanmar where Russia's Mir bank cards can be accepted, as well as options for companies to mutually open direct accounts in the two countries' banks.
The trade turnover between Russia and Myanmar grew by almost 50% in the first 11 months of 2024 as the range of exports and imports expanded. Russia exports mineral fertilizer, oil products and drugs to Myanmar, while Myanmar's principal exports to Russia include rice, fruit jams, textiles and footwear.