Myanmar president to attend ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit in Sochi

Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Sochi to mark the 20th anniversary ASEAN-Russia Dialogue relations to be held from May 19 to 20, according to an official announcement Sunday.

Approved by the parliament on Tuesday, an agreement between Myanmar and Russia on defense cooperation is expected to be signed at the event.

The deal to be signed with Russia is the result of recent Russian outreach to the ASEAN Community and Myanmar in particular on matters relation to military defense, national security and counter-terrorism, said the parliament.

Myanmar Deputy Defense Minister Maj-Gen Myint Nwe, who proposed the signing to the parliament, said the signing of the agreement would create new level of defense cooperation between the two countries and foster dialogue and mutual understanding of the defense policies in terms of international and regional security.

Myanmar and the Russian Federation vowed to promote defense ties between the two countries during Russian Defense Minister General Sergey K Shoigu's visit to Myanmar in March 2013.

Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing also called on the Russian Federation to contribute to ensuring world peace as there had been instability caused by political, economic, social and religious dilemmas in some regions.

Myanmar and Russia established diplomatic ties in 1948.

(APD)