A delegation led by Mr Batu Khasikov, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, the Russian Federation, arrived in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning after travelling from Yangon by air. They were welcomed at the airport by Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Aye Tun, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, and other officials.
The delegation later met SAC Member Mahn Nyein Maung and Union Ministers U Tin Oo Lwin, U Min Naung, Dr Nyunt Pe, and U Min Thein Zan at the M Gallery Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, including promoting mutual exchanges in religious and cultural matters, collaborating to successfully organize the third International Buddhist Forum in Kalmykia in September 2025, encouraging investment in agriculture and livestock sectors, and sharing agricultural technologies and quality seeds, introducing the Myanmar language as a subject in Russian universities and facilitating exchanges of scholarships and academic programmes, strengthening ties in education, healthcare, youth affairs, and sports development, and exploring the possibility of direct air links between Kalmykia and Myanmar to support tourism and hospitality industries.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw, where they offered flowers and water to a sacred Buddha image, made monetary donations, and signed the guestbook. They also visited the White Elephant Lodge, feeding white elephants with nutritional supplements.
In the evening, Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin hosted a dinner in honour of the Kalmykia delegation at the M Gallery Hotel. The event was attended by SAC Member Mahn Nyein Maung, Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, deputy ministers, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, the Russian Ambassador to Myanmar, and delegation members.
Following the dinner, the delegation visited the Maravijaya Buddha Image, where they paid their respects and toured the Buddha Garden on the premises. — MNA/TMT
