The 3rd Myanmar–India Bilateral Dialogue, jointly organized by the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) and the India Foundation, was held at the MISIS Building in Yangon on 6 November 2025 under the theme “Myanmar–India: Strengthening Bilateral Partnership for Sustained Prosperity.” The Dialogue brought together members of MISIS and the India Foundation, along with senior officials, diplomats, scholars, and policy experts from both countries, to deliberate on key areas of mutual interest and reaffirm the shared commitment to deepening the long-standing friendship between Myanmar and India.

 

The event was preceded by a welcome dinner hosted by H.E. Mr. Abhay Thakur, Ambassador of India to Myanmar, at India House on the evening of 5 November. The dinner was graced by the presence of H.E. U Ko Ko Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, along with representatives from MISIS and the India Foundation.

 

At the launch of the dialogue on the 6th November 2025, U Thant Kyaw, Chairman of MISIS made welcome remarks and it was followed by keynote addresses by Amb. Preeti Saran, Member of the Governing Council of the India Foundation, and H.E. Mr. Abhay Thakur, Ambassador of India to Myanmar. A Letter of Cooperation was then signed between MISIS and the India Foundation to institutionalize the Myanmar–India Bilateral Dialogue as an annual forum, promoting sustained intellectual exchange and strategic collaboration between the two institutions.

 

Throughout the day, the Dialogue featured four thematic discussions reflecting the key pillars of Myanmar–India relations. Participants examined ways to enhance economic and infrastructure connectivity through expanded trade, investment, and regional integration under India’s Act East Policy. They also discussed strengthening security and strategic cooperation, including countering transnational crime, promoting maritime security, and advancing defense collaboration. Deliberations on sustainable development and humanitarian partnerships highlighted climate resilience, disaster management, healthcare, agriculture, and India’s development initiatives in Myanmar, notably in Rakhine State. The final session focused on soft power and people-centric ties—cultural exchange, Buddhist pilgrimage tourism, education, and media cooperation—to deepen people-to-people connections.

 

The Dialogue concluded with closing remarks by U Thant Kyaw, Chairman of MISIS, and Capt. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of the India Foundation, who reiterated their commitment to advancing cooperation through continued dialogue and joint initiatives in the years ahead.

 

Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies

6 November 2025

U Than Swe, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs received Mr. Sanjay Mathur, Regional Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Asia-Pacific Region based in Bangkok, at 10:45 hrs on 6 November 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.

 

During the meeting, they exchanged views on matters related to the existing cooperation between Myanmar and the UNOPS.

 

Also present at the meeting were respective officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms. Sara Austin Netzer, Country Director and Representative of UNOPS in Myanmar.

U Than Swe, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs received Mr. Justin Brady, Head of Office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Myanmar, at 15:00 hrs on 5 November 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.

 

During the meeting, they exchanged views on matters related to the facilitation for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy people and ways and means for cooperation between the Government of Myanmar and United Nations agencies in the field of humanitarian assistance.

Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe, who is currently attending the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security held in Minsk, Republic of Belarus, held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

 

On 28 October, Union Minister U Than Swe met with H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and on 29 October, he met separately with H.E. Mr. Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

 

During the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, the two sides discussed prospects for enhancing bilateral relations between Myanmar and Russia, focusing on priority areas such as cooperation in political, economy, trade, investment sectors and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on continued collaboration at both regional and international levels.

 

Furthermore, the two Ministers discussed plans for election observers from the Election Commission and the Duma of the Russian Federation to participate in observing Myanmar’s upcoming General Elections, scheduled to begin on 28 December 2025.

 

Following the discussion, Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Russian Federation on Mutual Visa Exemption for citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for 2025–2027 were signed.

 

On 29 October, Union Minister U Than Swe met with H.E. Mr. Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The two Ministers held cordial and in-depth discussions on matters to further enhance Myanmar–Belarus cooperation, as well as on the upcoming signing of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding in the political, economic, cultural, and social sectors.

 

In the morning of 29 October, the Union Minister also visited the Consulate General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, where he met with officials and their families. He encouraged them to learn the local language of their host country, to study and apply modern technologies including AI to carry out their duties efficiently, and to always act as true representatives of their nation by working to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. He added that a diplomat should be someone capable of turning even an adversary into a friend, and should work to promote mutually beneficial cooperation with existing friends.

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nay Pyi Taw

Dated: 29 November 2025

The delegation led by H.E. U Than Swe, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, attended the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, held from 28 to 29 October 2025, and delivered a speech at the Conference.

 

The Conference is attended by over 200 participants including ministers, diplomats, international researchers from over 40 countries, among them Myanmar, Hungary, Russia, China, India, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as well as representatives from 7 international organizations.

 

During the opening ceremony of the Conference, H.E. Mr. Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, delivered a keynote speech, followed by statements from Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Secretaries General and Representatives from Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Conference on Interaction and Confidence- Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Commonwealth of Independence States (CIS).

 

In his address, the President of Belarus stated that the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security has become increasingly prominent each year and has now earned a firm place on the international agenda. He emphasized that disregarding the principle of indivisible security is a serious mistake and that global conflicts remain unresolved due to the continued neglect of the principle. He added that it is simple truth that the security of one state cannot be built at the expense of another, and that ignoring this reality is both tragic and dangerous.

 

In the remarks of Union Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. U Than Swe, he stated that the world we live in is transitioning towards a multipolar reality where countries across Asia, Africa, and Eurasia are increasingly shaping the global agenda. Myanmar views this transformation as an opportunity for enhanced cooperation and for building a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable international system founded on equality and mutual respect.

 

He emphasized that this new global trend resonates with the principles of Myanmar’s foreign policy: independence, non-alignment, mutual respect, and five principles of peaceful coexistence. In today’s complex and interdependent world, security issues transcend national boundaries. In this globalized era, threats to international peace and security arise not only from traditional sources but also from non-traditional challenges, which are equally important. There are profound root causes behind transnational violence, many of which stem from such non-traditional security issues. The illicit drug business in Golden Triangle area has been one of the major challenges facing our region, including Myanmar.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic period, online scam business, handled by international criminal gangs, have moved into Myanmar’s border area that are controlled by the Ethnic Armed Groups. Myanmar has been working closely with neighbouring countries, including China and Thailand, to dismantle these networks. Over the past two years, the Government of Myanmar has arrested 67,751 foreign citizens from 52 countries who were involved in online scam activities and transferred them to their respective countries.

 

Union Minister further stated that in this context, the Minsk International Conferences have emerged as an invaluable platform for dialogue and trust-building among the countries of Eurasia. Myanmar welcomes the idea of Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity. Myanmar has participated in Eurasia Economic Forum and Minsk Security Conference. Through such participation, Myanmar aims to contribute positively to the promotion of mutual understanding, regional stability, and the collective pursuit of peace and prosperity across Eurasia. Myanmar is cooperating with regional partners through mechanism such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), ASEAN, BIMSTEC, and other regional frameworks. The Government of Myanmar has been implementing plans and objectives in accordance with the country’s prevailing situation and is preparing to hold the general elections on 28 December this year. The Government of Myanmar continues to pursue the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts through dialogue and negotiation. Myanmar stands ready to contribute to the cause of peace, stability, and sustainable development across our shared continent.

 

The Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security was first convened in 2023, followed by the second Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security in 2024. The third Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security is being held this year under the main theme “Global (Dis)Order and the Eurasian Security Puzzle.”

 

Over the years, the Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security has become one of the prominent international platforms for discussing pressing issues related to regional and global stability.

Myanmar Delegation has been attending the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits and participated in a series of Summits with Dialogue Partners held on 28 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur including Signing Ceremony of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Version 3.0 Upgrade, the 28th ASEAN-China Summit, the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit, the ASEAN-New Zealand Gala Dinner, the 5th ASEAN-Australia Summit, the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit and the Closing Ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits and the Handover Ceremony of the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Republic of the Philippines.

 

Those meetings discussed on the further direction of cooperation under respective work plans and reaffirmed the commitments for developments of the region and beyond by setting up and exploring the mutually beneficial initiatives.

 

During the meetings, the Head of the Myanmar Delegation reiterated that ASEAN must continue to engage with its dialogue partners with unity and solidarity, maintaining the principle of “ASEAN as a whole.” He affirmed that Myanmar stands ready to cooperate with dialogue partners within existing cooperation frameworks. The Head of the Myanmar Delegation also emphasized that, as a responsible member of ASEAN, Myanmar has consistently engaged constructively with successive ASEAN Chairs. In this regard, Myanmar expressed its full support for the Philippines as it assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, and committed to continued cooperation under the Philippines’ leadership to ensure the momentum of ASEAN community-building efforts is sustained.

H.E. U Ko Ko Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar received H.E. Mr. Uladzimir Baravikou, Ambassador of Belarus to Myanmar, at 11:30 hrs on 28 October 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.

 

During the call, they cordially exchanged views and discussed bilateral relations, opportunities for closer cooperation between Myanmar and Belarus in various sectors, including education, science and technology, sports, and tourism.