The land of sapphires and jade. Belarus has found a new foothold in Southeast Asia, and it just needs to gain a foothold.

Накануне стало известно Президента Беларуси Александра Лукашенко в Юго-Восточную Азию, а точнее, в Мьянму. Дипломатические отношения с этой страной были установлены еще четверть века назад. Однако долгие годы особой динамики не наблюдалось, несмотря на активные - и порой успешные - попытки белорусского правительства зайти на рынок Мьянмы. Санкции и непростая внутриполитическая обстановка не способствовали стабильному развитию этого государства. А если учесть, что Мьянма - лакомый кусочек для азиатских и западных игроков с точки зрения ресурсов и влияния в регионе, то можно только представить, какие испытания еще предстоит пройти стране. Но тем не менее в последнее время контакты Минска и Нейпьидо заметно активизировались. В марте состоялись официальные переговоры Александра Лукашенко с председателем Государственного административного совета, премьер-министром Мьянмы (ныне исполняющий обязанности Президента Мьянмы, председатель Комиссии национальной безопасности и мира) Мин Аун Хлайном, что придало новый импульс двусторонним отношениям. А теперь белорусский лидер совершает ответный визит в Нейпьидо. Смогут ли Беларусь и Мьянма выстроить долгосрочное сотрудничество и на чем оно может быть основано? Давайте разбираться.

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What is known about Myanmar? 
Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a former British colony . However, in the middle of the last century, it also faced Japanese occupation. Anti-fascist forces in Myanmar understood that they could not hope to gain independence from the Japanese, and at the same time, they cautioned against placing excessive hope in the British, who, as it turned out, were willing to destroy the USSR at the hands of Germany and Japan. Therefore, the fight against Japanese occupation after the country's liberation evolved into a confrontation with British imperialism, and in 1948, Burma officially gained independence.
With the attainment of statehood, countries are forced to rebuild their political system, choosing their own development path and priorities. Myanmar was no exception. We will not delve into these twists and turns, but suffice it to say that this young and complex state, home to over 100 ethnic groups, faced a very challenging time.
In the 1990s, the country found itself under sanctions from the US and the European Union, which, naturally, were very concerned about human rights in the Southeast Asian region. Belarus knows firsthand what lies behind such concerns.
Just one fact. American Gene Sharp, infamous for his manual "From Dictatorship to Democracy," recalled: "I was brought to Burma by Robert Helvey, a former US military attaché in Burma who had become sympathetic to groups opposing the regime, especially the Karen people. I was asked to write several articles for Khit Pyaing, a Burmese and English magazine based in Bangkok, run by the late Tin Maung Win, and these articles eventually became part of the publication known as "From Dictatorship to Democracy."
Simply put, the idea of ​​color revolutions was born and first tested in Myanmar. Sanctions pressure on Myanmar began to ease only in the 2010s, and foreign investment poured into the country . Myanmar's cheap labor, natural resources, favorable location, and growing domestic market attracted the attention of more than just its neighbors. Between 2007 and 2016, the volume of foreign direct investment in the Myanmar economy increased 11 times. Belarus has also attempted to gain a foothold in this market. What's happening in Myanmar now? 
In 2021, Myanmar experienced another political crisis , exposing numerous ethnic conflicts and escalating into civil war. And the saddest thing is that the internal conflict is being fueled from the outside. Myanmar
is being closely watched by CHINA , which has invested heavily in the country and is committed to maintaining order within the country and stability along the shared border. China's interests in Myanmar intersect with the strategies of India and Japan. But all of this is economics., so partners are reluctant to interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs and, whenever possible, try to stay out of the way, leaving themselves room to maneuver.
But when politics gets involved, expect trouble. The West also wants to secure its influence in the region. It's also crucial to undermine China's position by any means necessary. Can this be done fairly? Unlikely. The result: new sanctions and financial aid to the opposition. Just the way we like it.
How Belarus-Myanmar Relations Developed
In December 2011, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich paid an official visit to Myanmar. Belarus was then invited to participate in the construction of hotels in local resorts and to jointly engage in the tourism business. Particular attention was paid to the oil and gas sector and the development of Myanmar's industrial complex.
"We need to establish a foothold here, as Chinese, Indian, and Russian companies are actively operating in this market. We intend to review all these issues within the government and identify the highest-priority ones that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency," Mikhail Myasnikovich stated following the talks in Myanmar.
Belarus could potentially participate in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in Myanmar. The parties even signed a memorandum to that effect. The discussion focused, in particular, on oil shale, gold, zinc, copper, cobalt, and iron ore.
But Myanmar is, of course, most famous for its precious stones: rubies, sapphires, jade, and others. Burmese rubies are considered the most expensive and beautiful in the world. A single crystal of this "blue blood" can fetch several million dollars. Perhaps Belarus is also interested in mining them? We'll discuss this further.
However, at that time, the full potential of Belarusian-Myanmar cooperation had not been realized. Perhaps contacts between the two countries had not yet strengthened (the issue was not just the number and level of official meetings, of which there were many) or priorities in economic, domestic, and foreign policy required Belarus and Myanmar to focus on other areas. Nevertheless, the countries did not abandon cooperation or roll back existing agreements.
In the fall of 2014, ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO met for the first time with Min Aung Hlaing, then Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces. "Our dialogue is long-term, and we must follow this path, no matter the cost," the Belarusian President stated . "We are ready to broadly develop relations with Myanmar—from routine supplies of goods to your country to purchasing products from Myanmar that are not produced in Belarus."
Six months later, the Belarusian leader received the Chairman of the House of Nationalities of the Union Assembly of Myanmar, Khin Aung Myint. "We are ready to cooperate with you in all areas – from training civilians and military personnel in the education system to cooperation in agriculture and industrial modernization. You have very large reserves of mineral resources. We are ready to provide you with the appropriate equipment for both agriculture and mining enterprises," said Alexander Lukashenko.
According to him, three to five key areas that need to be identified bilaterally could form the foundation for further development of cooperation between Belarus and Myanmar. The parties agreed that it remains only to find a way to realize the existing potential. "We need reliable partners like Belarus," Khin Aung Myint stated.
What Belarus and Myanmar are counting on: 
In 2024 , trade turnover between Belarus and Myanmar reached $34.6 million (190% of the 2023 level). Belarusian exports exceeded $22 million (391.4%), primarily consisting of specialized goods and data carriers. The bulk of imports were clothing, rice, and footwear.
In March 2025, an official delegation from Myanmar, led by Min Aung Hlaing, visited MINSK . A joint business forum was held in the Belarusian capital, followed by high-level talks. Their results allowed us to say that Belarus has found another growth point in Southeast Asia. "Analyzing the dynamics of our cooperation, I come to the conclusion that we have finally built the foundation for our future relations. And today we must move forward, further... We see great opportunities ahead. But time is running out. Let's not waste them and take advantage of our opportunities to deepen and expand our relations. We are ready for this," Alexander Lukashenko urged his Myanmar partners.
Mutually beneficial interests are evident. We have already mentioned that Myanmar is rich in natural resources. The country is located practically on the shores of the Indian Ocean, and its population is approximately 55 million. Belarus is ready to assist with its expertise in various sectors, especially since its partners have a high demand for technology in industry, construction, and agriculture. "We need several fundamental projects to move forward. Let these be a few projects at first. But these must be global, fundamental projects that will lead to other areas of cooperation. We have a very strong interest in Myanmar," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Min Aung Hlaing, for his part, expressed his intention to open a new chapter in relations with Belarus and take bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level through multi-sectoral collaboration. "Myanmar has great interest and desire to improve economic relations. Therefore, we are ready to discuss a strategic plan to expand our contacts," he outlined his priorities. The HEAD of the Myanmar government primarily mentioned agriculture , which is crucial for his country, and mechanical engineering. Myanmar is particularly interested in the transfer of Belarusian technology to the agricultural sector and the production of agricultural equipment and machinery, as well as the purchase of various types of fertilizers. Another proposal from Southeast Asian partners is to invest in Myanmar's economy to establish various industries, for example, concrete production or the cultivation and processing of rubber for tire production.
Assessing the domestic political situation in Myanmar, Alexander Lukashenko advised his partners to do everything that is beneficial for the country. "Naturally, everything you do will be disliked by some. There will be sanctions, which we and you have. But sanctions are a time of opportunity. Therefore, we agreed to take advantage of these opportunities and strengthen and deepen relations between our states. And we will do so," the Belarusian leader promised. Over the past few years, Belarus and Myanmar have been working on forming a pool of joint projects. These include the assembly of medium- and low-power tractors at the site of the former Zetor plant, consulting assistance to Grodno Azot OJSC and the Grodno Research and Design Institute of the Nitrogen Industry and Organic Synthesis Products OJSC in modernizing nitrogen fertilizer production, pharmaceutical production in Myanmar using Belmedpreparaty RUE technologies, the construction of dairy complexes, and the joint production of veterinary vaccines in Myanmar.
Supplies from Belarus to Myanmar of MAZ vehicles, nitrogen fertilizers, medicines, powdered MILK and baby food, and dairy equipment are under discussion.
And what about precious stones? As Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov stated on the sidelines of the talks, the Belarusian jewelry industry is interested in mining and purchasing precious stones in Myanmar, which could be used in jewelry production in our country.
How Belarus has helped Myanmar: At the end of March, a devastating earthquake struck Myanmar. Several thousand people died, and residential and public buildings, as well as infrastructure across the country, were damaged or destroyed. At the direction of the President of Belarus, a search and rescue team   from the Ministry of Emergency Situations
and 20 tons of humanitarian aid were sent to Myanmar, including sets of frame tents,blankets and foodMore than 30 Belarusian rescuers, dog handlers, and medics assisted with the aftermath of the earthquake and treated victims after they were found in the rubble. Work continued nonstop, despite difficult conditions and the threat of aftershocks leading to the collapse of damaged and unstable building structures. "We are competent to provide assistance directly in the emergency zone: immobilization, anti-shock measures, and pain relief. We have all the necessary medications and equipment, including sophisticated medical equipment. We also have the necessary supplies of antiseptics, disinfectants, and water disinfectants to ensure sanitary and epidemiological well-being in temporary deployment areas and to implement sanitary and anti-epidemic measures," said Yuri Geleklidi, a DOCTOR with the ZUBR special forces unit of the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations. Why Lukashenko was awarded Myanmar's highest award. During his March visit to Minsk, Min Aung Hlaing awarded Alexander Lukashenko the Order of the Union of Myanmar, 1st class. The ceremony took place at the Palace of Independence following talks between the two leaders. The Order of the Union of Myanmar is the country's highest civilian award, bestowed by the government. Alexander Lukashenko was awarded it for his contribution to the development of friendly bilateral cooperation in various fields. "This is an advance, I understand. I will do everything to justify it," the President said upon accepting the order. Alexander Lukashenko promised to visit Myanmar soon to oversee the implementation of agreements with Min Aung Hlaing and identify new mutually beneficial areas of cooperation. Ahead of the visit, the President of Belarus approved draft intergovernmental agreements with Myanmar. For example, a visa-free regime will be established between the countries. However, the focus is on the economy. The package of signed documents includes a draft agreement on cooperation in the customs sphere. It should simplify the movement of goods between the countries, remove unnecessary barriers, and establish direct communication between relevant agencies. This could accelerate the creation of new trade chains and increase mutual exchange volumes. Another key agreement concerns the elimination of double taxation. Such a measure is needed by businesses considering opportunities to enter foreign markets. A time of great opportunity is truly approaching for Belarus and Myanmar. Minsk has gained a new foothold in Southeast Asia, and Naypyidaw has gained a foothold in the very heart of Europe. The countries now only need to ground their strategic cooperation. Therefore, we await more exciting news. Read also: Photo from the BELTA archive