With Western governments maintaining sanctions and withholding recognition, Min Aung Hlaing’s regime turned to Russia and Thailand this week, hosting back‑to‑back meetings in Naypyitaw to discuss trade and investment cooperation.
On April 28, Russia’s economic counselor to Myanmar, Andrei Lunak, met separately with Electricity and Energy Minister Ko Ko Lwin, National Planning and Investment Minister Aung Kyaw Hoe, and Hotels and Tourism Minister Maung Myint. According to regime statements, the discussions covered trade and investment cooperation, progress on existing joint projects, and plans for further collaboration.
The Thai Embassy’s chargé d’affaires, Yordying Supasri, also led a delegation to the capital this week, holding separate talks with Investment Minister Aung Kyaw Hoe and Central Bank Governor Dr. Khin Naing Oo. Talks focused on bilateral economic cooperation, Thai business activities in Myanmar, and measures to facilitate cross‑border trade, according to the regime media.
Energy Minister Ko Ko Lwin visited Russia in mid‑April, discussing petroleum imports, refinery construction, offshore investment and concessional loans. During his follow‑up meeting with Lunak in Naypyitaw, the two sides discussed implementation of those agreements, including preparations for a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries’ energy ministries covering cooperation and technical training.
Lunak’s meeting with Aung Kyaw Hoe included discussions on government‑to‑government and private‑sector economic cooperation, the status of ongoing investment projects, and future work plans.
Talks with Hotels and Tourism Minister Maung Myint focused on expanding cooperation in the tourism and cultural sectors. The only direct flight linking Russia and Myanmar—the Yangon-Mandalay-Novosibirsk route—has been suspended since April 2025 due to low passenger numbers and the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar a month earlier, Russia’s state‑owned Tass reported.
Thailand, which has maintained engagement with Myanmar’s military-backed regimes since the 2021 coup, has repeatedly expressed interest in restoring border trade flows. During an April 22 meeting between regime leader Min Aung Hlaing and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the two sides discussed cooperation in investment, energy, agriculture and other sectors. Thailand was the first country to send its foreign minister to Naypyitaw after Min Aung Hlaing’s inauguration as president earlier this month.
Following that meeting, Chargé d’Affaires Supasri held further discussions with regime ministers and senior officials. In talks with the central bank governor, Thai business representatives expressed interest in making investments using the Thai baht. The governor said baht‑denominated transactions could be used for both trade and investment, according to regime media. Last month, the bank allowed foreign investments in Chinese yuan.
Delegations from China and Qatar also visited Naypyitaw in recent days. China’s Heilongjiang Provincial Party Secretary Xu Qin and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, while a Qatari delegation led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Dr. Mohammed Al Attiyah held talks with Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe and former foreign minister Than Swe. Discussions covered cooperation in energy, agriculture, mining and broader economic engagement.
Western governments continue to withhold recognition of the Min Aung Hlaing regime. The European Union last week extended sanctions on senior military leaders and associates, citing ongoing human rights violations.
