Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, deputy head of the State Peace and Development Council, the military government of the Southeast Asian nation, which wields absolute power and stands accused of massive human rights abuses by the Western community, is traveling with a delegation of the Council members, overseeing foreign affairs, science, stock farming, economics, energy, and fishery.
In Moscow, they are expected to sign a bunch of agreements, including agreements on cooperation in fighting drug traffic and on cooperation between the two countries' chambers of commerce and industry. The bodies are expected to encourage business contacts between Russia and Myanmar, which is facing sanctions over its non-democratic course.
Russian business seeks access to oil and natural gas prospecting and development in Myanmar, which has important off-shore oil and gas deposits, the right to build hydro power plants and be involved in transport and communications projects there, whereas Myanmar's traditional export items like rubber, rice, fruits and sea products are in demand in Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said intensifying cooperation in different areas with Myanmar, which borders on Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand, was part of Russia's policy in Southeast Asia.
The two countries, which laid out main principles of bilateral cooperation in a joint declaration in 2000, are also working to promote ties in the sphere of science and education. Russian universities are training some 1,500 students from Myanmar at the moment, and Russian professors work in Myanmar, preparing students for Russian universities.
