Putin Hosts Myanmar Leader, Promotes Oil Refinery and LNG Cooperation

On Tuesday in Moscow, Vladimir Putin hosted Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, describing him as a friend of Russia. Putin said the two countries are cooperating in energy, defence, and space exploration. He added that Russia is in talks with Myanmar about constructing an oil refinery and about hydrocarbon production and exploration, including on Myanmar's continental shelf. Putin also cited good prospects for supplying Russian liquefied natural gas to Myanmar, with potential onward transit to other countries. Min Aung Hlaing, a former general, is the target of numerous Western sanctions and has been seeking international legitimacy since winning a parliamentary vote to become president. That vote followed an election dominated by an army-backed party in the absence of a viable opposition. A photo by Sputnik via Reuters showed the Myanmar leader entering a hall for the meeting.