(1) Senior General and Madame Than Shwe arrive back from Brunei after goodwill visit
YANGON, 27 Apr - Myanmar goodwill delegation led by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing arrived back here by special flight from Brunei at 2.30 pm today after goodwill visit to Brunei from 25 to 27 April at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertua of Brunei Darussalam. Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing were welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife, Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo and wife, Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife, members of the State Peace and Development Council and their wives, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and wife, Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun, ministers, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Lao People, Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham and wife, the heads of Diplomatic Missions in Yangon and their wives and the Charge d'Affaires ai of the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam Mr Haini bin Haji Hashim and wife.
The delegation members Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Khin Win Shwe, member of the State Peace and Development Council and Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Minister at the Office of the Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ohn Gyaw and wife Daw Khin Kyi and Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi also arrived back here.
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(2) Deputy Premier receives Ambassador of Japan
YANGON, 27 Apr - Deputy Prime Minister Vice Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Ambassador of Japan Mr Kazuo Asakai at his office at 10.30 am today.
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(3) Laos Minister for Home Affairs arrives
YANGON, 27 Apr - At the invitation of the Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, a ten-member goodwill delegation led by Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Asang Laoly of Lao People's Democratic Republic arrived here by air this evening.
The delegation was welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, directors-general of the ministry, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham and Embassy staff and officials.
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(4) Four-member armed group exchanges arms for peace
YANGON, 27 Apr - With the aim of ensuring the emergence- of a peaceful modern and developed nation the Government laid down and is implementing 12 political, economic and social objectives, and is welcoming those who swapped arms for peace with genuine goodwill for national reconsolidation and fulfilling food, shelter and clothing and social needs of their families.
Realizing the genuine goodwill and correct deeds of the Government and the fact that age-long sabotage did not benefit the country at all, armed groups are exchanging arms for peace.
Four members of an armed group led by Platoon Commander Win Naing and one dependant from No 2 company of KNU No 11 battalion exchanged arms for peace, bringing along with them one .45 pistol, one RPJ-5 launcher, one AK automatic, four M-16 automatic rifles, 33 magazines, 360 rounds of ammunition and three grenades at Myeik Station at 5.30 pm on 24 April.
They were warmly welcomed by officials who attended to their needs.
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(5) Hosting of 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific reviewed
YANGON, 27 Apr - The meeting to review the accomplishments in hosting the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation this afternoon.
Chairman of the Central Committee for Hosting the Conference Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin said the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the. Pacific could be held successfully and this was recognized by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe, Vice-Chairman General Maung Aye and Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
He said based on the success and experience achieved at the Conference, Myanmar will host similar conferences in future and he urged, various subcommittees to keep the records on their activities and expenditure which will be helpful to hosting similar conferences.
He said Director-General of FAO Dr Jacques Diouf, while paying courtesy calls on the State Peace and Development Council Chairman and the Secretary-1, expressed thanks repeatedly for successfully hosting the Conference and noted frankly that the Conference held in Myanmar was the grandest one among FAO conferences he had ever attended.
The Minister thanked all who participated and provided assistance for the success of the Conference.
A general round of discussions followed and the meeting concluded with Chairman of the Work Committee for Organizing the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung's address.
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(6) Information plays vital role in nation-building
YANGON, 27 Apr - Special Refresher Course 3/98 for Officials of Information and Public Relations Department opened this morning in Training Hall of News and Periodicals Enterprise with an address by Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung.
Information plays a vital role in nation-building, he said. The short-term course will teach an IPRD official to become an able officer forging good relations with the people, he noted.
The course is conducted to disseminate genuine news of the nation among the people and to correctly distribute news and periodicals and to engage in TV and radio services, he said.
IPRD officials have the responsibility to help the public realize the State objectives which were laid down are being implemented for the people to follow the traditions and culture of the nation where Theravada Buddhism is flourishing, he stated, saying the course will teach them to do this job well.
The Ministry of Information is timely distributing accomplishments of departments and NGOs, he said.
The responsibility to distribute genuine news lays on IPRD officials, he pointed out, saying they should possess good character and conduct, sincerity and practical skills to become good organizers and public information officials in implementing the tasks.
Fifty IPRD officials are attending the four-week course.
Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Adviser at the ministry U Kyaw Hsan, Director-General of Myanma Radio and TV U Kyi Lwin, Director-General of IPRD Lt-Col Chit Naing, Managing Director of Printing and Publishing Enterprise U Than Maung, OSD Col Bo Kyi, Director (News) of NPE U Hla Tun, officials, instructors, trainees and guests were also present.
The minister and party inspected a computer course conducted by Forever Group in the same building.
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(7) Minister for RT inspects site for sleeper factory
YANGON, 27 Apr - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung Managing Director of Myanmar Railways U Kyaw Hsan, General Manager (Civil) U Ohn Lwin and officials inspected the site for sleeper factory in Toegyaunggalay on 26 April.
The minister inspected control cabin under construction in the yard of Toegyaunggalay Station.
The minister inspected repair of Bridge No 101 between Gadok and Phaungdawthi which was destroyed by flood in 1997. He spoke of the need to increase income of MR, minimize wastage and loss, to ensure regular time for trains and others in meeting with service personnel at Pyuntaza Station.
The minister discussed conducting of courses, discipline and future tasks with members of Bago Division Union Solidarity and Development Association at Bago Station.
He arrived back here in the evening.
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(8) Minister for Culture receives Ambassador of Japan
YANGON, 27 Apr - Minister for Culture U Win Sein received Ambassador of Japan Mr Kazuo Asakai at his office this morning.
They discussed bilateral cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Present also were Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Director-General of Department of Cultural Institute U Myint Thein Swe, Director-General of Department of Archaeology U Nyunt Han and officials.
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(9) Minister for Industry-1 receives Senior Executive of Millicom International Cellular SA
YANGON, 27 Apr - Minister for Industry-l U Aung Thaung received Senior Executive Vice-President for Business Development (Asia-Pacific) Mr MA Zaman of Millicom International Cellular SA of Sweden at his office this afternoon.
Present also were Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thein Tun and Col Than Zin, directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises.
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(10) Companies informed to conduct express postal service in line with MPT rules
YANGON, 27 Apr - Myanma Posts and Telecommunications and DHL Worldwide Express BV jointly set up Myanmar DHL Ltd on 23 September 1996.
The joint-venture company began international express postal service on 1 January 1997.
MPT officials have given warnings to companies which are engaged in inter national express postal service by their own programmes without having any legal connections with MPT.
MPT has informed these companies to cease their engagement in this service not later than 20 April 1998 if they are not able to conduct the business in line with MPT principles.
Three companies, which are OCS (Overseas Courier Service), Indo-China Express and Wah Wah Co Ltd, have proposed to participate in the business In accord with MPT rules.
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(11) MIC Secretary receives GM of Myanmar Kuok Oils and Grains Ltd
YANGON, 27 Apr - Minister at the Office of the Chairman of State Peace and Development Council and Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received General Manager of Myanmar- Kuok Oils and Grains Ltd Mr Chua Chay Jin and party at MIC office this afternoon.
Present also were officials of the Myanmar Investment Commission Office.