February 1960
Soviet Premier's Burma Trip
people U Nu General Ne Win Nikita Khrushchev
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited Burma as part of a trip around Asia. The country was then under the "Caretaker" government of General Ne Win. Khrushchev wrote in his memoir that he was very impressed with the welcome he received upon arrival. The New York Times, however, reported that Khrushchev was "welcomed cordially but with no great show of enthusiasm on his arrival in Rangoon".
President Mahn Win Maung hosted a garden party at Government House and Khrushchev attended as the guest of honour. He also met with then former Prime Minister U Nu, as well as General Ne Win. He believed that U Nu had been too pro-American and that General Ne Win would lead Burma in a more Marxist and pro-Soviet direction.
During the visits, the USSR promised support to Burma as a gesture of goodwill. The agreement was that the Soviets would provide assistance in rebuilding Burmese cities, Rangoon Technological Institute, Inya Lake Hotel and a hospital in Taunggyi and that Burma would repay the same amount by supplying the USSR with rice.
This news reel footage of Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Rangoon in February 1960 has no voiceover but seems to contradict the muted welcome suggested by The New York Times. It shows Khrushchev's cavalcade from the airport and warm greetings by Burmese leaders. It also shows Khrushchev laying a wreath at General Aung San's mausoleum and planting a tree at the construction site of the Technological Institute. Towards the end, there is a glimpse of the grand garden party reception hosted for him at Government House.