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(1) General Maung Aye receives Thai Military Delegation Led by Commanding General of Third Army Region of Royal Thai Armed Forces
YANGON, 24 July - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye received the Thai Military Delegation led by Commanding General of the Third Army Region of Royal Thai Armed Forces Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn, who attended the 16th Meeting of Myanmar-Thai Border Committee, at Zeya Thiri Beikman, Konmyinttha, here this afternoon.
With General Maung Aye were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of the Office of Strategic Studies Director of Defence Services Intelligence Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt Secretary-2 Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo, members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and Chairman of Shan State (East) Peace and Development Council Commander of Triangle Region Command Maj-Gen Thein Sein and Ambassador of Myanmar to Thailand U Hla Maung and Military Attache Lt-Col Kyaw Han.
The Thai delegation was accompanied by Ambassador of Thailand Mr Pensak Chalarak, linny Attache Col Ongrad Ratanawichai and Naval Attache Capt Pravit Srisukwattana.
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(2) Myanmar, Thailand sign Agreement on Tourism Cooperation
YANGON, 24 July - The Signing Ceremony of the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand was held in Mingalar Hall of Kandawgyi Palace Hotel this morning, attended by Chairman of the Management Committee for Development of Tourism Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present were Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe, Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Minister to Prime Minister's Office Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tourism Authority of Thailand Mr Jurin Laksanawisit and delegation members, officials of the Embassy of Thailand, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, Director-General of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism U Khin Maung Lat, and special guests.
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(3) Secretary-l receives Resident Representative of FAO
YANGON, 24 July - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Resident Representative of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Dr Prem Nath, who has completed his tour of duty, at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 8 am today.
Present on the occasion were Minister at the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman Brig-Gen Abel, Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs U Nyunt Swe and U Khin Maung Win and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.
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(4) Yangon Division to put over 1m acres under monsoon paddy this season
YANGON, 24 July - Monsoon paddy ploughing season of Yangon South District for 1998-99 concluded with a ceremony held in conjunction with a district-level paddy transplanting contest this morning at a research centre of Myanma Agriculture Service in Thonkwa Township, attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.
Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister at Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Minister for Labour U Kyaw Aye, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Col Khin Aung Myint, OSD at State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Than Tint, departmental personnel, local people and farmers were also present.
Chairman of Yangon South District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Maung Maung Sein explained the monsoon paddy acreage in the district this season, efforts to exceed the cultivation target, conclusion of the ploughing season and aims of the contest.
Ten-women transplantation teams from Kawhmu, Kungyangon, Twantay, Kayan, Thongwa, Thanlyin and Kyauktan townships in the district took part in the contest.
Each participant transplanted in a 50-ft by 45-ft plot within the limited time of 20 minutes.
Kayan won first prize, Kyauktan second and Thongwa third. Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Twantay and Thanlyin won consolation prizes. Ma Ei Khaing of Kyauktan won best transplanter award, Ma San San Win of Thongwa second best award and Ma Sein Mya Yi of Kawhmu third.
Departmental officials and Golden Green Company presented prizes to the winners.
Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo cordially conversed with the participants, members of the contest holding committee and local people.
Yangon South District will put 786,040 acres under monsoon paddy this season, exceeding the target of 713,922 acres by 12,118 acres.
Yangon Division will put 1,137,357 acres under monsoon paddy this year, exceeding the target of 1,115,000 acres by 22,357 acres.
The division has cultivated up to 985,486 acres to date. Arrangements are under way to put the remaining acres under paddy in July.
Accompanied by officials, the Secretary-2 met departmental personnel and local people in the town hall there.
Efforts are being made from all sectors for agricultural development, which is the basic requirement for national development, he noted.
The Government is cooperating with departments and local people for agricultural development to promote the social life of farmers who are the nation's majority in line with the guidance of Senior General Than Shwe, he stated.
Duties have been assigned systematically for national agricultural development, to meet the targeted sown acreage State/Division wise, to extend acreage, to increase per acre yield and to develop mix-cropping, he said.
It is learnt that the division will exceed its monsoon paddy cultivation target this season, he said, expressing his satisfaction in seeing the results of today's ploughing conclusion ceremony and transplantation contest.
Systematic efforts are being made for progress of all economic sectors based on agriculture, he said, adding the Five-Year National Economic Plan is being implemented based on the previous Four-Year Plan.
Cooperative efforts among all departments and loca1 authorities is required to realize the agricultural objectives, he said.
The Government, the Tatmadaw and the public should join hands for modernization of the entire nation, he stressed.
Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than said the district was the first to complete ploughing season in the division, which is a result of collective efforts among officials, peasants and the public. The district which is dutiful in its monsoon paddy cultivation is helping the agricultural sectors of other regions, he said.
The division is striving to exceed the target in monsoon paddy cultivation and that the ploughing season in the entire division will complete in July, he said.
Officials presented agricultural requirements.
The Secretary-2 gave suggestions.
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(5) Myanmar-Thai Border Committee holds 16th meeting
YANGON, 24 July - Member of the State Peace and Development Council 16th meeting of Myanmar-Thai Border Committee leader of Myanmar delegation Commander of Triangle Region Command Maj-Gen Thein Sein and Thai delegation led by Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn, Commanding General of the Third Army Region, Royal Thai Armed Forces, accompanied by Ambassador of Myanmar to Thailand U Hla Maung, Myanmar Military Attache Lt-Col Kyaw Han and staff officers, Left here by Tatmadaw flight on 22 July morning for Kawthoung.
They were welcomed at Kawthoung Airport by member of the State Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung, Commander of Thninthayi Naval Region Command Headquarters Commodore Soe Myint, Deputy Commander of Eastern Command Brig-Gen Myint Thein, Acting Tactical Operation Commander Lt-Col Zaw Min, Chairman of Kawthoung District Peace and Development Council and military and civilian officials.
Commander Maj-Gen Thein Sein hosted dinner in honour of Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn and party at Andaman Club on Thahtay Island in the evening. Leaders of Myanmar and Thai extended greetings and exchanged gifts. The 16th Meeting of Myanmar-Thai Border Committee was held the next morning.
Maj-Gen Thein Sein and Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn delivered addresses.
The visiting delegation visited Salon Island at 10:30 am and paid homage to Dipa Aungmyay Sein Yaungchi Mya Pagoda on Salon Island in the afternoon.
Commander Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung hosted dinner in honour of Lt-Gen Sommai Wichaworn and party.
The two leaders extended greetings. The next morning, the two leaders signed the agreement. The meeting ended with the concluding remarks by the two leaders. They visited Bayintnaung Hill in Kawthoung.
Commander Maj-Gen Thein Sein and Thai delegation left Kawthoung by Tatmadaw flight this morning. They were seen off at the airport by Commander Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung and officials. They arrived back here at 12:25 pm.
Then, Thai delegation visited the Shwedagon pagoda at 3:15 pm and donated. cash to the pagoda funds.
The delegation left here by special flight at 4:25 pm. They were seen off by Commander Maj-Gen Thein Sein and officials.
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(6) Thai Minister and Parts go sight-seeing
YANGON, 24 July - Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman of Thai Tourism Authority Mr Jurin Laksanawisit and party, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu and officials, arrived at the National Museum at 2 pm today.
They were welcomed there by Deputy Director-General of the Cultural Institute Department U Kyaw Win and officials who conducted them round the museum. The visiting minister and party proceeded to Myanma Gems Museum and Myanma Gems Mart on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road where they were welcomed by Adviser to Myanma Gems Enterprise U Thein Lwin and officials.
Mr Jurin Laksanawisit and party also visited Bogyoke Aung San Market and Shwedagon Pagoda where they donated cash to the pagoda funds.
Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin hosted dinner in honour of
Mr Jurin Laksanawisit and party at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel this evening to mark
the successful signing of the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between Myanmar
and Thailand.
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(7) Minister for Culture tours Nyaungshwe, Taunggyi
YANGON, 24 July - Minister for Culture U Win Sein, accompanied by officials, arrived at Nyaungshwe Hawnan Museum of the Cultural Institute Department, Shan State, yesterday.
The 85-year-old Hawnan was built by 32nd Nyaungshwe Sawbwa Sir Saw Maung in 1913.
The minister viewed the assembly hall, the painting of the Hawnan builder Sawbwa, works of art and records on the 33 Sawbwas, who ruled Nyaungshwe during 600 years and the personal effects of Nyaungshwe Sawbwa Sao Shwe Thaike.
He gave instructions on renovation of the Hawnan.
Accompanied by Director-General of Cultural Institute Department U Myint Thein Swe and officials, Minister U Win Sein inspected Library of Shan State Cultural Institute Department on Bogyoke Aung San Road in Taunggyi today.
Meeting the staff at the library, the minister gave suggestions on welfare and arrangements to enable the public to borrow books from the library.
He later inspected Shan State Cultural Museum.
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(8) MIIDC Chairman visits industrial coop syndicates in Mayangon Township
YANGON, 24 July - Chairman of Myanma Industrial Development Committee Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Vice-Chairman of MIDC Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe and members Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San and Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut inspected the industrial cooperative syndicates in Yangon Division today.
They arrived at Myanma Tihtwinthumyar Coop Syndicate on Kyaikwaing Pagoda Road in Mayangon Township.
Chairman of the Coop Syndicate U Soe Tint Aung briefed them on paddy husk gas-powered engines, the syndicate's financial accounts and marketing of the engines.
Member youths of the Board of Directors of Myanma Tihtwinthumyar Coop Syndicate experimented "producer gas" obtained from paddy husk in 1992 which could run the engines like 30-HP Toyota engines, which are being used in rice mills, saw mills, edible oil mills, ice factories, generators and pumps. This gas is a substitute for costly petrol and diesel and the syndicate is selling 20-200-HP engines.
The environment friendly engines suit paddy producing areas and villages.
The syndicate keeps experimenting to produce the new fuel-substitute gas from bean covers and saw dust.
It could sell 49 machines valued at over K26 million to state/division coop syndicates and private coops.
The ministers later visited Sein Naga Ceramic Industrial Coop Syndicate on U Ba Han Street, Ward 2, Mayangon Township.
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(9) IPRD provides stipends for children of service personnel
YANGON, 24 July - A ceremony to present stipends to families of service personnel of the Head Office of the Information and Public Relations Department, Ministry of Information, was held at IPRD, No.22-24, Pansodan Street, this afternoon.
Present were Director-General Lt-Col Chit Naing of IPRD and officials Lt-Col Chit Naing spoke on the occasion and presented stipends to students.
The staff welfare committee of the IPRD provided K 129,850 and two dozen copy
books each for 157 students including 50 primary, 35 middle, 47 high and 25
university level students.