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(1) Implementation of Economic Plans coordinated
YANGON, 6 Jan - A coordination meeting on implementation of Economic Plans was held at the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development at the Ministers' Office this afternoon, attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
Present also were Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Ministers at the Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Zaw Tun, Officer on Special Duty at the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Than Tint, heads of departments of the ministries concerned and officials.
The Secretary-2 said just as Short-Term Plans of Four-Year and Five-Year Plans are being implemented, yearly plans are also drafted and implemented.
He spoke of the need to provide correct figures in drafting and implementation of the plan and said ministries are to compile the figures with special attention.
He also spoke of the need for the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development to make assessment and to study ups and downs of economy of State-owned and private sectors. Implementation of the objectives of the plan is based on the assessments, he added.
Efforts are to be made to meet the targets of economic sector of the Second Year as the period of the Second-Year Plan of the Five-Year Plan will end soon, he said.
The Secretary-2 spoke of compilation of correct and accurate economic figures and reference.
The ministers and heads of departments discussed implementation of economic plans.
The meeting ended after giving necessary instructions by the Secretary-2.
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(2) Chief of Staff (Army) inspects hostels for Armed Forces Day parade columns
YANGON, 6 Jan - Chairman of Leading Committee for Observance of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo, accompanied by Chairman of Management Committee for Observance of the 53rd Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Acting Auditor-General Brig-Gen Tin Aye, Chief of Armed forces Training Maj-Gen Saw Lwin Senior military officers and deputy ministers, inspected hostels for Armed Forces Day parade columns in Kyaikkasan Grounds this morning.
Vice Quartermaster-General Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Commander of No 2 Military Region Col Hsan Hsint, Chief of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung and Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than reported on hostels and arrangements for accommodations.
The Chairman of Leading Committee gave instructions on accommodations of columns, food, cleanliness of the hostels and security.
The Secretary-2 inspected the hostels, messing hall and bathrooms.
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(3) Ambassador of Laos calls on Minister for Transport
YANGON, 6 Jan - Ambassador of Laos Mr Ly Bounkham called on Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe at his office this afternoon.
Present were Director-General of Transport Department U Khin Maung Myint and officials of the ministry.
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(4) Over K 4 million for Shwedagon Pagoda
YANGON, 6 Jan - Well-wishers donated gold plates and cash at the 287th donation ceremony of the Shwedagon Pagoda in the ancient Buddha Images Museum Tazaung of the pagoda this afternoon.
Altogether 138 well-wishers presented K 4,186,110 and gold plates for the trust fund of the pagoda.
Members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and officials accepted the donation and presented certificates of honour to the donors.
Sayadaw of Nyaungdon Kyaungtaik Bhaddanta Nanadhaja delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits gained for pious deeds.
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(5) Building of Hsinbyushin Bridge on Chindwin River making good progress
YANGON, 6 Jan - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung attended to the needs of Tatmadawmen who are building the Kyawt-Yemyetni section of ChaungU-Pakokku-Gangaw-Kalay Railroad on 4 January.
The ChaungU-Pakokku-Gangaw-Kalay Railroad is being built with the labour of the Tatmadawmen.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister Thura U Thaung Lwin and officials, he heard a report on progress of work presented by Tactical Operations Commander of North West Command Col Nay Win.
In the evening, he supervised building of Hsinbyushin Bridge across Chindwin River in ChaungU Township.
Project Director U Win Tin and officials briefed him on construction of the main bridge, the river current, arrival of bridge frames and building of the approach road.
The minister met officials and experts from the People's Republic of China, urging them to work with added momentum, to control quality and to make preparations to control waterways.
He also attended to their needs.
Construction of two approach roads and nine piers has been completed. The bridge will have altogether 13 piers. The main structure will be 990feet long with three spans.
The minister inspected the approach road at Paukinn.
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(6) Cooperative Banks inspected
YANGON, 6 Jan - Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San met officials of Cooperatives Department and Chairmen of the Board of Directors of Cooperative Bank Ltd and members and managers at the Ministry of Cooperatives this morning.
The minister discussed concentration on services of the cooperative banks in accord with prescribed rules, cooperatives agricultural activities, assistance for development of cooperative industries and making efforts for success of the objectives of the banks.
In the afternoon, the minister inspected functions of the banks.
The minister inspected counters, counting machines, vault and bank accounts at Cooperative Promotion Bank on Seikkantha Street.
He also inspected Cooperative Bank Ltd at the corner of Strand Road and 23rd Street and Cooperative Farmers Bank on Maha Bandoola Street.
The minister gave instructions on loans, staff welfare, safekeeping of cash and securities and public confidence on the banks.
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(7) Golden Jubilee Independence Day Commemorative Exhibition continues
YANGON, 6 Jan - The Golden Jubilee Independence Day Commemorative Exhibition continued for the fourth day in the Tatmadaw Convention Hall on U Wisara Road here.
Members of the Sangha and the public, those of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and students visited it.
The portrait of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe is the centerpiece with the words "From Golden Jubilee to Golden Era" inscribed under it.
On the right of the exhibition hall are a documentary display on the emergence of the State Peace and Development Council, list of the ASEAN member nations, irrigation projects already inaugurated in 1995 and ongoing projects, proposed projects, the bridges and railroads built in the time of the present government, foreign investment, the number of foreign projects and foreign capital in Myanmar, list of economic organizations registered in Myanmar, Myanmar nationals' growing investment up to 30 June 1997, new buildings for education and proposed projects, improvement in education sector, projects undertaken for the development of border areas and national races up to 30 September 1997, buildings constructed for public health, significant progress made in medical field and the list of seized narcotic drugs destroyed at the 11th exhibition.
The exhibition is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm till 11 January.
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(8) Minister for Foreign Affairs extends greetings to staff
YANGON, 6 Jan - Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw extended New Year's greetings to the staff of his ministry this afternoon at MOFA.
Prizes were also presented to outstanding staff.
Deputy Minister U Nyunt Swe, directors-general of departments under the ministry, directors, deputy directors, other officials and service personnel were present.
Director U Kyee Myint of Department for Myanma Missions Abroad emceed it.
After extending greetings, the minister presented gifts to two service personnel of the ministry who were outstanding in sports while attending course at Central Institute Civil Service.
He also presented gifts to staff who won prizes in inter-department Independence Day commemorative tennis competitions.
The deputy minister presented gifts to athletes who won prizes in badminton competitions.
Director-General U Aye Lwin of ASEAN Affairs Department presented gifts to those who won prizes in table tennis competitions, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet to those who won prizes in htoaksitoe matches, Director-General U Khin Maung Win of Political Department to those who won prizes in chess competitions, Director-General U Nyo Win of Department for Myanmar Missions abroad to those who won prizes in volleyball matches and Director-General U Nyunt Maung Shein of International Organizations and Economic Department and Department of Foreign Languages to those who won prizes in quoit contest.
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(9) Myanmar-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival
YANGON, 6 Jan - A Myanmar-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival took place on the lawns of the Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel this evening.
Present were Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and officials, 500 Japanese tourists who are here under the arrangement of SAI Travel Co Ltd of Japan and Ambassador of Japan Mr Yoichi Yamaguchi.
The minister and the ambassador spoke.
Later, Japan-Myanmar cultural exchange programme was presented, and dinner was served.
The festival programme will be staged at the National Theatre on 7 and 8 January.
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(10) Tourists arrive by air, leave by sea
YANGON, 6 Jan - Tourists, who arrived here by a French chartered flight on 3 January, left here by cruise liner mv Mermoz on 6 January morning.
During their stay, they visited the Shwedagon Pagoda and places of interest in Yangon, Bago, Bagan, Inlay and Mandalay on 4 and 5 January.
At night, they were entertained to cultural variety shows by Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services.
The trip was arranged by MHTS and Myanma GG Tour Company.
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(11) "Israel Archaeology from the Air"
YANGON, 6 Jan - The photo exhibition "Israel Archaeology from the Air" to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the Independence of the State of Israel opened today in the National Museum, attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Lao Ambassador Mr Ly Bounkham, diplomats, other officials and guests.
Ambassador of Israel Mr Gad Nathan spoke on the occasion.
The exhibits are aerial photos of archaeological finds, monuments and others by Duby Tal and Moni Haramati, former Israeli Air Force pilots.
The exhibition will be open from 10 am to 4 pm till 20 January.
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(12) Writers, photographers honoured
YANGON, 6 Jan - Four Writers, and 27 photographers were honoured for rendering assistance for publishing of "Shwedagon, Symbol of Strength and Serenity" on international standard.
Nearly K 1.85 million was presented to them.
Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee Col Myint Aung spoke.
He then presented gifts and cash to U Myo Thant (Maung Hsu Shin) and U Aye Cho, compilers in Myanmar, and Daw Kyi Kyi Hla and Dr Sein Tu, compilers in English, and photographers U Win Pe (Yangon, Win Pe), U Maung Maung Thaung, U Po Cho (NyaungU Po Cho), U Thein Nyan (Thiha Thein Nyan), U Tun Shwe (Okkala Tun Shwe), U Pe Myint Oo (Pe Myint Oo), U Khin Maung Win (Shwe Inntha), U Lu Maung (Lu Maung), U Htin Lin (Htin Lin GA), U Thein Kyi (Thein Kyi), U Than Aung (Than Aung), U Han Min Oo (Tekkatho Han Min Oo), U Kyaw Lin (Kyaw Lin Hlaing), U Moe Min (Moe Min Rays) and U Thein Naing Oo (Ko Oo).
YCDC member Col Thaung Wai also presented gifts and cash to photographers U Aung Din, Ngwe Soe (Yahtaye), Pyaing Sansha Ko Myint (Yankin), Aye Min, Ko Kyin Han, U Khin Zaw, Pont Pont Swe, Chitsaya (Yankin), UNESCO Tun Aung Kyaw, Ma Theingi (Myanmar sar) and Aye Min Tun.
The ceremony at City Hall was also attended by officials and guests.
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