Myanmar

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (RUM) has a total area of 677,000 square kilometres and a population of about 52 million as of the 2014 census. The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw, and the largest city and economic centre is Yangon (Rangoon). Myanmar is the largest mainland state in Southeast Asia and one of the world's three countries that has not adopted the metric system.

Htin Kyaw, who was elected President of Myanmar on 15 March 2016, will assume office no sooner than 1 April, when the presidential term of outgoing President Thein Sein expires.

The Soviet Union (Russia) and Burma (now Myanmar) established diplomatic relations on 18 February 1948.

In 2015, Myanmar's GDP amounted to $65 billion, an increase of 7.8 percent (in 2013/2014 it was 8.7 percent), and its foreign trade equalled $23.5 billion.

Russian-Myanmar trade was $130.5 million in 2015, with Russian exports worth $114.8 million and imports from Myanmar worth $15.7 million. Russia mostly exports machines, equipment and vehicles to Myanmar (85.9 percent), mineral products (4.3 percent), metals and metalware (3.7 percent); and chemicals and natural rubber (3 percent). Myanmar imports include textiles and textile goods (49.9 percent), foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials (48.9 percent).

Russia and Myanmar primarily cooperate in transport, mining, energy and education and in the fight against the drug threat.

Interesting facts:

Myanmar is often called the Golden Land because of its large number of gilded pagodas. A unique complex in Bagan comprises over 3,000 pagodas and kyaungs that are dated in the period between the 9th and 13th centuries. Myanmar also has the world's largest book consisting of 1,460 "pages" that are polished marble tablets with the Tipitaka Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism inscribed on them.