From Russia with love
Myanmar’s embattled military regime hosted a Russian delegation this week, seeking help from its only other major international backer, just days after the junta chief paid a visit to China.
The Russian delegation, led by Buryatia Republic head Alexey Tsydenov, met with nine junta ministers in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, further cementing the “deep and meaningful” ties between the two regimes.
Tsydenov vacationed in Yangon and Ayeyarwady Region’s Chaungtha Beach, but visited the junta’s nerve center for talks with ministers of transport and communication, finance and planning, investment and foreign economic relations, religious affairs and culture, agriculture and livestock, industry, commerce, health, and hotels and tourism.
The two sides discussed topics ranging from investment, tourism, and direct flights to deepening of people-to-people ties between Russia and Myanmar.
The Russian visit came hot on the heels of junta boss Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to Kunming, Yunnan province last week, where he assured protection for China’s investments in Myanmar.
Russia has embraced the regime since the 2021 military takeover, supplying weapons and cooperation in various other sectors. In contrast, Beijing initially distanced itself from the junta as it struggled to suppress the nationwide armed revolt.
However, China recently switched to openly supporting the regime, dispatching its Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Naypyitaw in August and cutting supplies to ethnic armies on its border while warning them to stop fighting the junta.
Wang Yi even warned against “external interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs”, a possible red light against Russian intervention.
Tsydenov’s visit to Myanmar comes amid reports that Min Aung Hlaing is poised to visit Russia soon.
The junta boss has visited Russia three times since the 2021 coup. He met President Vladimir Putin when he attended the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia in September 2022.
Satisfying China’s energy needs
Despite Myanmar citizens grappling with widespread power outages and soaring electricity bills, even in Yangon, junta energy minister Ko Ko Lwin has declared the country will share liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its new terminal with China. He discussed the plan with the chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Beijing on Monday, citing the energy needs of both countries. The two sides also discussed increasing the capacity of Myanmar-China crude oil and gas pipelines.
Meanwhile, Ko Ko Lwin touted investment opportunities in Myanmar oil and gas projects.
Junta media reported that the minister’s delegation held talks with the National Energy Administration (NEA), Sino-Pipeline International (SPI) and Yunnan province officials on oil and gas sector cooperation and investment, as well as construction of solar power plants in Yangon and Mandalay.
They added that China will also take part in the upcoming Asian Oil & Gas Equipment Exhibition and Investment Forum, to be hosted by Myanmar in 2025.
The country has suffered regular blackouts and electricity rationing ever since the 2021 coup, with Min Aung Hlaing’s regime unable to provide a constant supply. Last week, the junta boss used his first visit to China since the military takeover to plead for more collaboration and investment in the electricity sector.
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