September 19, 2023
NAY PYI TAW – The ministers of foreign affairs of Myanmar and Belarus held a meeting on September 15 to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation in various sectors, such as economy, defense, agriculture, education, and science and technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported.
At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, who made a working visit to the Republic of Belarus, arrived at Minsk International Airport in Belarus via Russia on the night of September 14.
On the morning of 15 September, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe had a separate meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Mr. Sergei Aleinik at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. They cordially exchanged views on further promotion of bilateral relations and cooperation and reaffirmed their commitments for closer collaboration between the two countries in multilateral fora on the basis of mutual understanding, trust and equality.
Subsequently, the Myanmar-Belarus bilateral meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, U Than Swe and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Mr. Sergei Aleinik. Also in attendance were Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Mr. Evgeny Shestakov, Myanmar Ambassador concurrently accredited to Belarus U Lwin Oo, and senior officials from the Foreign Ministries of Myanmar and Belarus.
At the meeting, both sides cordially exchanged views and discussed a wide range of topics, including strengthening of the existing friendship and expediting the implementation of the ongoing bilateral cooperation between Myanmar and Belarus, holding consultations between the two foreign ministries, enhancing cooperation in economy and trade, defence, agriculture, education, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges amongst others.
Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister U Than Swe expressed Myanmar’s profound appreciation to the Republic of Belarus for its principled position, understanding and unwavering support towards Myanmar, in both bilateral and multilateral contexts, especially at the United Nations and also for facilitation of the establishment of the Myanmar Consulate-General in Minsk.
Later, the Myanmar delegation attended the working luncheon hosted by Mr. Sergei Aleinik, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus.
In the afternoon, the Myanmar delegation visited the Falco-Agro Dairy Farm and was briefed by responsible officials on the technique of cattle breeding and production of dairy products. Afterwards, the Myanmar delegation visited the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War.
In the evening, the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister attended the reception celebrating the opening of the Consulate-General of the Republic of the Union Myanmar in Minsk, Republic of Belarus together with Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus, Mr. Evgeny Shestakov. The reception was attended by officials from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Diplomatic Corps and Myanmar scholars in Minsk.
On 16 September, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister U Than Swe and the party departed Minsk for Mandalay via Moscow and Novosibirsk. In Novosibirsk, the Myanmar delegation was shown around the significant places of the city and building intended for the Myanmar Consulate-General in Novosibirsk. The First Deputy Governor of Novosibirsk Region, Mr. Yuri Petukhov hosted a dinner for the Myanmar delegation.
The Myanmar delegation arrived back at the Mandalay International Airport by Myanmar Airways International flight on the morning of 17 September, where they were welcomed by officials concerned of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.