MINSK, 20 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing have had an informal meeting on the eve of official negotiations, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: “We’ve been cooperating with you very intensively recently. And I’d like to assure you that the Belarusian side will implement everything we’ve agreed on. And we’ve opened all the doors to you and your businessmen. Feel free to take a look. For you we will do everything you are interested in and everything we can do starting with agriculture and ending with the military-industrial complex.”

The Belarus president stressed that it is up to the heads of state to open doors so that enterprises could cooperate with each other. “A lot will depend on our persons of contact. On our side two people [Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and Chairwoman of the Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom Nadezhda Lazarevich] will be personally responsible for cooperation with Myanmar. I believe that there are people like that on your side as well. We will support and execute everything they will agree on,” the Belarusian leader said.

In turn, the Myanmar president remarked that about 100 representatives of the private sector had come to Belarus together with him and a Belarus-Myanmar business forum had already been held on the sidelines of the visit to Minsk. “During this forum we demonstrated the goods we make in our country. Businessmen from Myanmar will also get familiar with Belarusian products. I am convinced that as a result of the visit we will be able to increase the trade turnover between our countries,” Min Aung Hlaing said. “I assure you that as far as Myanmar is concerned, we are ready to work and fully implement the agreements that have been reached.”

Myanmar’s leader stated that it was a great pleasure for him to meet with the Belarus president once again while the itinerary of the visit was tightly packed. For instance, on the first day of the visit apart from the city of Minsk Min Aung Hlaing had already been to the Grodno Azot enterprise. “I now have a lot of ideas with regard to cooperation,” he noted.

The Myanmar president said that on the way to the city of Grodno he had an opportunity to get familiar with Belarus’ nature in greater detail, to see the country’s fields and forests, learn more about the development of agriculture. “They explained to me that you keep an eye on these matters, on forests, fields, and animal husbandry. I saw that under your leadership Belarus develops and there is stability,” Min Aung Hlaing shared the impressions.

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that Grodno Oblast was the entire country’s best in the days of the Soviet Union. “It was the best oblast in the Soviet Union. This is why you’ve been to the best oblast of the former empire,” he noted.

The conversation of the heads of state also touched upon Belarus’ current rainy weather. “The fact that it was raining when you landed is a good omen,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

He also stated that Belarus’ nature has a lot in common with Myanmar’s. For instance, both countries have a lot of forests and greenery and it rains a lot in both countries. “The weather is warm in your country now but here it is cool. It is good weather for a human being,” the Belarusian leader said.

Min Aung Hlaing confirmed that the air temperature is at about 35-37C in his home country now. It was even hotter a couple of months ago, with the air temperature getting as high as 45-49C. As for rains, the rainfall can be excessive at times and can result in flooding.

The working program of the leaders began with a one-on-one meeting in a home setting and an informal supper.

The main negotiation program at the level of the heads of state is scheduled for Friday, 21 August. The presidents are expected to discuss the state and prospects of development of bilateral cooperation, which key avenues are stipulated by the roadmap for 2026-2028. Interaction in manufacturing sector, agriculture, pharmaceutics, science, and education is prioritized. The heads of state will look into concrete steps meant to implement previously sketched out plans as soon as possible in addition to discussing new mutually beneficial projects. Attention will also be paid to interaction between Minsk and Naypyidaw on international platforms.

There are plans to sign documents meant to reinforce Belarus-Myanmar ties in trade, economy, science, technology, law, and other spheres as a result of the official negotiations.

Min Aung Hlaing’s official visit represents a confirmation of the active work Belarus does to promote relations with Myanmar and with Southeast Asia countries as a whole.