The Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister undertook official State visits to Russia and Belarus from 3 to 9 of this month, following an official invitation from both countries. Since we have been providing timely news updates, the media is already aware of the activities and engagements that took place. Therefore, I do not wish to elaborate further on these matters. The main point I want to talk about is what benefits this has brought to the country. When we look at it, we can divide it into three main sectors: politics, economy, and social affairs. Regarding politics, we have gained assurances in terms of international relations. Countries like Russia and Belarus have long stood by Myanmar on the international stage, and we have now received firm assurances that they will continue to do so. The second point is related to elections in Myanmar. As everyone knows, the earliest possible date for the election would be the last week of December, while the latest would be the second week of January. Regarding the election, not only Russia and Belarus but also other international countries have expressed their support. In particular, Russia and Belarus have not only strongly backed the election process but have also indicated that they will send monitoring and observation teams. As for the people, the good news is that we will unwaveringly move towards and implement the multiparty democratic system that the people have long desired. This is related to successful political transitions. Regarding the economy, Russia and Belarus have more advanced technology than our country. As you all know, our country has been designated as one that will focus on an agriculture- and livestock-based industrial economy. We have great opportunities to achieve this. Speaking of countries like Russia, let’s take Belarus as an example. Belarus is only about one-third the size of Myanmar. It is a landlocked country with a population of just 9.1 million. However, the GDP from just its agricultural sector alone reaches nearly $9 billion. When we look at this, we see that Belarus has less agricultural land than Myanmar and also faces several limitations. Currently, in Belarus, nighttime temperatures range between -2 to -12 degrees Celsius, and some areas remain cold year-round. The country has restrictions in terms of land availability for farming as well as climate limitations. Yet, despite these challenges, Belarus has achieved economic success. Given that Myanmar has an abundance of water, land, and favorable weather conditions, there is no reason why we cannot achieve similar success. What is needed is a modern agricultural system. We have signed agreements related to this. There are many requirements for a modern agricultural system. We are working to meet the fertilizer needs of our farmers. Agreements have been signed regarding this. Moreover, we have invited investment in fertilizer plants in Myanmar. We are also working with China to establish a fertilizer plant. Moreover, Myanmar has three major deep-sea ports that are crucial for the economy: Kyaukpyu, Thilawa, and Dawei. The Dawei deepsea port project has been stalled for a long time. However, we have signed an MoU with Russia to work on this project. Although we are mainly working with Russia, we welcome participation from any country. Another important aspect is the social sector. Countries like theirs have advanced education and healthcare systems. We are making efforts to improve our own education and healthcare sectors. In summary, this trip has created positive prospects for Myanmar’s future. It contributes to our goal of returning to a multiparty democratic system, making progress, achieving success, and ensuring nationwide development.

Lei Yi Hlaing/TTA

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