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YANGON, 18 Feb - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing accompanied by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party, left here at 8 am yesterday by special flight to pay a State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines at the invitation of President of the Republic of the Philippines Fidel V Ramos and Madame Amelita M Ramos.
On the way, they stopped over at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at 10.35 am local time.
Senior General and Madame Than Shwe and entourage were greeted at the airport by Chairman of the People's Committee Mr Vi Viet Thamah and welcoming party, Myanmar Ambassador to SRV U Khin Soe and wife, Military Attache Brig-Gen Myo Tin and embassy staff.
At 5.30 pm, Senior General Than Shwe and President Ramos held discussions in the State Dining Room of the palace.
Also present were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Brig-Gen Thura Shwe Man, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw, Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines U San Thein, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, Director-General of the Government Office U Soe Tint, Director-General of the Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet, Director-General of the Political Department U Khin Maung Win, Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha and officials, and present together with the Philippine President were Acting Executive Secretary Mr Alexander Aguirre, Secretary of Agriculture Mr Salvador Escudero III, Secretary of National Defence Mr Fortunato Atrat, Secretary of Trade and Industry Mr Cesar B Bautista, Press Secretary Mr Hector Villanueva, the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Director-General of the National Security Council Mr Jose Almonte, Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs for Administration Ms Rora Navarro-Tolentino, Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Sonia C Brady, Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Mr J Apolinario Lozada, Under-secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and high-ranking government officials.
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(2) MIC Chairman receives President of Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation
YANGON, 18 Feb - Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received President Mr Toshio Kawachi and party of Kinsho-Mataichi Corporation of Japan at his office at 10.30 am today.
Present also were officials of the commission.
They discussed business undertakings of the company and investment opportunities.
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(3) Communications inspected in Chin State, Mandalay Division
YANGON, 18 Feb - Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin and officials of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications inspected construction of Mandalay-Kalay-Haka microwave link in Kalay, Sagaing Division on 14 February.
Project manager and deputy project manager reported on the project and progress of work. The minister spoke of operation before the Sixth Student Sports Festival to be held in Haka. He inspected installation of equipment at the station, Kalay auto exchange and satellite communications station and microwave station in Falam.
On 15 February, the minister, accompanied by Chairman of Chin State Peace and Development Council Col Ohn Thwin, inspected microwave stations and machines at telegraphs and post offices.
The minister inspected sports ground where Student Sports Festival will be held, satellite communications ground station and met personnel of MPT.
On 16 February, the minister inspected post office, Ponnyataung microwave station in Gangaw.
Minister Brig-Gen Win Tin and Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung inspected construction of tunnel in Ponnyataung.
In Pale, the minister was briefed on communications by Sagaing Division Manager of MPT.
The minister inspected auto exchange and installation of DECT radio telephone and microwave station in Monywa and microwave station and telephone exchange in Myinmu on 17 February.
In Mandalay, the minister was briefed on communications by Mandalay Division Manager of MPT.
He inspected installation of 2,000-line telephone exchange and DECT radio telephone system and telephone bill production computers.
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(4) Pearl culture inspected in Taninthayi Division
YANGON, 18 Feb - Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and Managing Director of Myanma Pearl Enterprise U Win Maung and officials inspected industrial zone in Myeik and pearl culture islands with Joint Venture in Taninthayi Division from 14 to 17 February.
The minister discussed mining sector with Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Brig-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung.
Member of Myanma Industrial Development Committee Brig-Gen Ohn Myint inspected fish powder factory and spoke of substitution of coal at the factory, production of fish powder blocks for foreign exchange and marketing them.
He inspected private cold storage and the site for shipyard.
The minister, accompanied by Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Thura Maung Ni, Commander of Taninthayi Division Naval Region Command Headquarters Commodore Soe Myint, inspected Tasakishinja Co and Ocean Pearl Co Ltd in Mali island on 15 February and Myanmar Nino Pearl joint Venture Co and Shwekyun pearl culture on 16 February.
The minister gave instructions on production of quality pearl, being loyal to the State, paying tax and seeking customers and fulfilled the requirements.
The minister met service personnel in Mali, Pearl and Shwekyun islands.
CEC member of the Union Solidarity and Development Association U Ohn Myint yesterday explained political, economic and social development in the country in meeting with departmental officials in Kawthoung, EC members of USDA, members of Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigades at Myitzuthaka Hall.
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(5) Minister for Information receives Ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
YANGON, 18 Feb - Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung received Ambassador of Sri Lanka Mr K B Fernando at his office at noon.
Similarly, the minister received Ambassador of People's Republic of Bangladesh Mr Jahangir Saadat at the same venue at 3 pm today.
Present also were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Director-General U Kyi Lwin of Myanma Radio and Television, Managing Director U Than Maung of Printing and Publishing Enterprise, Managing Director U Tin Pe of Myanma Motion Picture, Director (News) U Hla Tun of News and Periodicals Enterprise, Chief Editor U Kyaw Min of the New Light of Myanmar Daily and Head of Office U Khin Maung Myint.
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YANGON, 18 Feb - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo attended to the needs of farmers cultivating summer paddy and other crops and pumped-water projects at Aingkalaungkyun low-lying area in Taikkyi Township, Yangon Division, and Bawlekyun in Htantabin Township, today.
Accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Director of Medical Services Brig-Gen Mya Thein Han, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 U Thein Tun, Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung and officials, the Secretary-2 arrived Aingkalaungkyun at 8.30 am.
At Peinsu Village, Hsinchan village-tract, Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than explained to him that monsoon paddy has been cultivated as targeted in Yangon Division and efforts are being made to reclaim more land at low cost to cultivate summer paddy as targeted.
Aingkalaungkyun Land Reclamation Project is one among the many other reclamation projects in the Division, he said, presenting progress in reclamation of land at Bawlekyun and Kawhmu, Kungyangon and Hlegu townships.
Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint, Director-General of Agricultural Mechanization Department U Win Maung, Director of Irrigation Department U Tin Maung Win and officials explained a project to reclaim over 500,000 acres.
Farmers also reported on summer paddy cultivation in Aingkalaungkyun and requirements and Chairman of Yangon North District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Kyaw Tint and departmental personnel on regional condition and health requirements.
Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister Col Tin Hlaing, Minister Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Deputy Minister U Thein Tun and Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint looked into their requirements.
Lt-Gen Tin Oo gave counsel on extended cultivation of summer paddy at Aingkalaungkyun.
The Secretary-2 and party inspected land put under summer paddy and pumping water from Hline River for irrigation at Aingkalaungkyun.
In the afternoon, they supervised work at pumped-water stations of Water Resources Utilization Department and land put under summer paddy, groundnut and matpe in Yayhawthaung Village, Htantabin.
At his meeting with farmers of Taikkyi and Htantabin townships, the Secretary-2 said they came there for the progress of agriculture in the regions, expressing pleasure in seeing significant development of agriculture in Aingkalaungkyun and Bawlekyun due to pumped-water projects.
Installation of hand pumps, mechanized pumps and pumped-water stations ensures sufficient water supply for drinking and irrigation in the regions, he noted, saying large amount of money has been spent for development of farmers who are the majority of the nation in accord with the guidance of the Head of State Senior General Than Shwe.
Farmers should strive to put land under crops suitable to the weather conditions of the regions especially the four main crops, which are, paddy, beans and pulses, sugarcane and cotton, he suggested.
Officials at different levels must make field tours for the success of the tasks, he stressed, urging local authorities and departmental personnel to work cooperatively with farmers as township levels are the most important stages for progress of the tasks.
All should strive for the success of economic plans, he pointed out.
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than explained regional development projects in the Division, speaking of the need to understand the Government's goodwill in providing assistance to farmers and to work dutifully.
Farmers presented requirements in installation of power supply, extension of electric pumped-water projects and renovation of schools and areas where pumped-water projects can be extended.
Ministers and deputy ministers also took part in the discussions.
The Secretary-2 gave suggestions.
They arrived hack here at 6.45 pm.
Nearly 14,000 acres can be set up in Bawle-kyun in Htantabin, after completion of Kawhmu-sanchaung, Tawhseyoe and Ngabatyoe canals.
Another 15,610 acres will emerge in Aingkalaung-kyun, Taikkyi, after completion of Alehse-chaung and Hmaingpale-chaung, Kataingsein-chaung and Inlanlaybwet-chaung canals.
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(7) London-Myanmar Open Professional Golf Tournament Organizing Leading Committee holds coord meeting
YANGON, 18 Feb - Leading Committee for Organizing London-Myanmar Open Professional Golf Tournament, which will be held at Bagan Golf Course, NyaungU Township, Mandalay Division, from 5 to 8 March, met at National Indoor Stadium-1, Thuwunna, at 1 pm today.
It was attended by Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Chairman of Organizing Leading Committee President of Myanmar Golf Federation Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, Vice-President Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung and members and guests.
Minister Brig-Gen Sein Win and President Brig-Gen Win Hlaing spoke on the occasion.
Then, Secretary of the committee General-Secretary of the federation U Aung Kyi briefed the meeting on arrangement being made for the tournament.
The committee members and officials gave supplementary reports.
Later, Brig-Gen Sein Win gave concluding remarks.
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(8) MD of Nassetti Co Martaban calls on Minister for Industry-1
YANGON, 18 Feb - Managing Director Mr Andre Pithois and party of Martaban Co Ltd of Nassetti Co from Italy called on Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung at his office at 3 pm today.
Present also were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thein Tun and managing directors of the enterprises under the ministry.
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(9) Timber extraction discussed
YANGON, 18 Feb - Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone and Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Soe Myint and Col Thaik Tun met officials of Planning and Statistics Department, Forest Department, Myanma Timber Enterprise and private timber extraction companies at Forest Department Head Office this afternoon.
They reviewed and discussed timber production in 1997-98, local and foreign sale, timber extraction in 1998-99 fiscal year and sale methods.
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