( 1 ) Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe accepts credentials of Ambassador of the People's Republic of China

Yangon, 13 March-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe accepted the credentials of newly-accredited Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Union of Myanmar Mr Li Jinjun at Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence at 10 am today. Also present on the occasion were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.

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( 2 ) Officials urged to promote border trade between Rakhine State and neighbouring nations

General Maung Aye meets departmental personnel, local authorities, Tatmadawmen in Sittway

Yangon, 13 March-Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, accompanied by Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Win Myint, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Kyi Min, the ministers, the Chief of Staff (Air), senior military officers, the director-general of the State Peace and Development Council Office and officials, left here by Tatmadaw flight for Sittway in Rakhine State on 12 March. General Maung Aye and party were welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council Commander of Western Command Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Commander of Danyawady Naval Region Command Headquarters Commodore Myat Swe, senior military officers and departmental officials.

General Maung Aye and party met members of Rakhine State Peace and Development Council, chairmen and members of Sittway District and Township Peace and Development Councils and departmental officials at Western Command. General Maung Aye said Efforts are being made for national economic development designed to meet the needs of the nation's population of 100 million which will reach in the next 30 years. As the nation is striving to ensure food sufficiency for the growing population, so also, it is endeavouring to supply fuel and electric power for the machines to run at full capacity.

Fuel and electric power are essential requirements for the switching to mechanized farming and building of an industrialized nation. The government is exploring energy resources at sea or inland in various parts of the country, he said. He spoke of the need for all the people to work as the country has plenty of natural resources. According to present condition, paddy and fish and meat are not only sufficient and but also in surplus and efforts are to be made for sufficiency in states and divisions, he added. He said the Short-Term Four-Year Plan implemented in 1992-93 exceed the targets with the participation of the people. There are only a few days left to complete the Second Short-Term Five-Year Plan. There is prospect of exceeding the targets and individual income is also on the increase, he said. Endeavours are to be made to exceed the targets by working day and night.

The Short-Term Five-Year Plan is to be implemented beginning 2001-2002 and duties have been assigned in states and divisions, he said. The General spoke of the need to show how to strive for development of state at a time when efforts are being made for development of states and divisions through competition.

Rakhine State gets suitable condition for progress and every nation is striving for economic development, peace and stability and high standard of living, he added. He said we are now building a new peaceful, modern and developed nation with the Twelve Objectives upholding Our Three Main National Causes-Non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty. Continuing, he said, human resource is a main requirement for realization of the objective and requirements have been fulfilled for simultaneously emergence of human resources not only in Yangon and Mandalay but also in other places in states and divisions. Like education sector, training schools and universities have been opened for turning out efficient health staff in health sector and arrangements are being made for narrowing development gap between one region and another, he said.

He spoke on extended cultivation acreage, use of changed strains, efforts for boosting yield and minimizing loss and wastage. He said in the past potato and chayote (Sechium edule) were considered to be grown in Shan State. But now these crops can be grown successfully in Yangon. It is necessary to undertake the tasks with interest and diligence, he added. Corn, sesamum, cotton, sugar and beans and pulses get good prices in the world market.

These crops are to be cultivated and in addition to food sufficiency, efforts are to be made to become a state that can supply the requirements of other states and divisions, the General said. Commander Maj-Gen Aung Htwe reported on cultivable acreage, cultivation of paddy, oil crops, kitchen crops, vegetables and beans and pulses, breeding of prawn, economic development, preparations for realization of the objectives of the Short-Term Five-Year Plan beginning 2001-2002, repair of sections on Yangon-Sittway Road and paving of Kyaukphyu-Maei Road.

Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation reported on cultivation of monsoon and summer paddy cultivation on 1999-2000 in Rakhine State, increased cultivation of monsoon and summer paddy in 2000-2001, boosting of paddy production, cultivation of beans and pulses, oil crops and kitchen crops, four dams and flood preventive measures and feasibility study for construction of Pyaing Creek Dam. Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha reported on economic development of the country and neighbouring countries, quarterly economic progress for 2000-2001, ratio of Rakhine State in production and services value and implementation of sector-wise of the Short-Term Five-Year Plan in Rakhine State.

Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun reported on roads and major and small bridges built and projects. Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone reported to the meeting on the conditions of nation's surplus rice stocks, purchase of paddy from Rakhine States as targeted and the requirements to be fulfilled by the state. Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein explained the favourable conditions of the state to develop its fish and meat sector and the ministry's plans to provide assistance to the sector. Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung briefed the meeting on the ministry's assistance to develop human resources sector of the state.

Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint said the five-year short-term project which will begin from fiscal 2001-2002 was drawn in all probability to meet the objectives. There may be sectors which can exceed the respective targets. Efforts should be made with the technical ability to exceed the plan targets. Rakhine State has much favourable conditions for economic progress; and there remains a large untapped areas for production progress.

The departments should successfully implement their tasks under the single administrative machinery. The soil of the state is specially suitable to grow paddy. For no reason, all the land on which paddy can grow well should be put under the crop. From now on efforts should be made with greater momentum in cultivating paddy to feed the growing population in the future. Special attention should be paid to ending shifting cultivation system which may lead to forest depletion and deterioration of the climate conditions. The global beans and pulses, sesame and cord markets are expanding. Thus, it is required to extend cultivation of bokate bean in Rakhine State.

Organization tasks should be made at the villages to grow more mustard in the state. Products should be traded though legal channel for the benefit of the producers and the State. In the meantime, illegal sale of goods should be curbed. Officials should provide necessary assistance to local people to increase trawler ownership among the locals and to provide fishing nets. Prawn, cattle, fish, pig, chicken and goat farming should be extended. Matured timber should be extracted in accord with the correct principles and that trees should be planted on extracted timber plots.

General Maung Aye said as the central level is visiting the subordinate levels, the state and division, district and township level officials should tour down to the villages. They should not act in separation in looking into the requirements of the grassroots and should submit the matters which are beyond their limit to the superiors. Efforts should be made to promote production and extend exports to increase earnings. It is required to import only the goods which benefit the nation. Cultivation of crops which have ready markets should be developed; prawn breeding which contributes to the regional economy should be extended; and keeping of correct data is required to reduce wastage.

As conditions are favourable for the state to promote border trade with neighbouring nations, officials are required to make necessary preparations. A large amount of cash has been spent in building roads and bridges for regional economic progress; and efforts should be made to upgrade the roads to become all-weather facilities. Success has been achieved in implementing the first and second short-term plans due to collective efforts. Continued efforts are required to for success of the short-term five-year plan which will be started in April.

The General then cordially greeted those present at the meeting. This morning, the General and party paid obeisance to Lawkananda Pagoda in Sittway. They also paid homage to Sakyamuni Buddha Image which was conveyed from MraukU and is being temporarily placed at Maha Waiyan Sasana Beikman. At the Bandoola Hall of the Western Command, the General met Tatmadaw members and families of Western Command, Danyawady Naval Region Command and Sittway Station. He said the national economy is developing as all the Tatmadawmen, families, service personnel and people are making collective efforts in implementing the tasks. They should maintain the momentum of success in striving to promote production. All the battalions and units should conduct farming on manageable scale.

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( 3 )Mayor meets Ambassador of Sri Lanka

Yangon, 13 March-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay received Ambassador of Sri Lanka Mr Ubhayasekara Mapa at his office at 10 am today.Also present were Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, Secretary Col Myint Aung and committee members, heads of departments and officials.

Minister receives foreign guests

 Yangon, 13 March-Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein received Chairman of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Dr Brian W Tempest at his office at 1 pm today.Also present were officials of the Ministry of Health.

Minister receives Ambassador of Pakistan

Yangon, 13 March-Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein received Ambassador of Pakistan Mr Yusuf Shah at his office at 2 pm today. Also present were officials of the Ministry of Health.

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( 4 )   Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry arrives

Yangon, 13 March-A 52-member delegation led by Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz arrived here by air this evening to attend a seminar on economic opportunities between Myanmar-Malaysia to be held in Myanmar. The delegation was welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Director-General U Nyunt Aye of Directorate of Trade, Ambassador of Malaysia Dato Muhammad Bin Noh and officials of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Malaysian delegation leaves for home

The delegation was seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, Malaysian Ambassador to Myanmar Dato Muhammad Bin Noh and officials of directorate and services under the ministry.

Yangon, 13 March-An economic delegation of Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce led by Chairman of Hong Kong Wing Tai Corporation Ltd Mr Chris-topher Cheng, Jp arrived here by air this evening.  The delegation was welcomed at Yangon International Airport by officials of Minister of Commerce, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

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( 5 ) Chinese delegation visits Hlinethaya Industrial Zone, City Plantation and National Museum

Yangon, 13 March- The goodwill delegation led by Executive Vice-Chairman and Member of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Chinese Association for International Understanding Mr Li Chengren, currently here at the invitation of Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council member of Panel of Patrons of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (Central) Lt-Gen Win Myint, accompanied by USDA Central Executive Member U Khin Maung, visited Hlinethaya Industrial Zone this morning.

Secretary of Yangon Division USDA U Aye Myint, Secretary of Hlinethaya Township USDA U Nyan Win and executives and Director of Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development Lt-Col Htin Aung Kyaw and officials welcomed the delegation at Kanaung Hall in Hlinethaya Industrial Zone. Deputy Director of DHSHD U Tun Lin explained the salient points about the zone.

The delegation visited Tokyo Pipe Factory of Myanmar Pipes and Accessories Co Ltd. Managing Director of the factory U Than Myint explained facts about the factory. The delegation also visited garment factory of Myanmar Texcamp Industries Ltd. The delegation went to City Plantation and Recreation Camp of Yangon City Development Committee in Taikkyi Township. Member of YCDC Col Thaung Wai, Executive of Yangon Division USDA U Tin Maung Win, Secretary of Yangon Division North District USDA U Kyee Maung, Secretary of Taikkyi Township USDA U Hla Win and executives welcomed them at the Recreation Camp. Col Thaung Wai briefed them on fact about the city plantation.

The delegation members observed the plantation and fish breeding ponds. The guests visited paddy, vegetable and fruit research building, green house plantation, the 25-ton Rice Mill, paddy-husk briquette factory and raising of duck at Kyontahmyin Camp. The guests visited the reservoir and bird sanctuary. In the evening, the guests visited the National Museum where they were conducted round by Director-General of Department of Cultural Institute U Myint Thein Swe and officials.

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( 6 ) Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image crowded with devotees

Yangon, 13 March-Members of the Sangha and pilgrims thronged Mindha-mma Hill on which Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image is kept, in Insein Township, today. Wut associations recited religious verses. Stone sculptor Thiri Thudhamma Manijotadhara Sayagyi U Taw Taw and sons were carving the image from the morning to evening. Myanmar handicraft technician U Ohn Tin and party and Myanmar handicraft technician U Hla Kyu and party also participated in the construction and decoration of Gandhakuti Building and stairways. Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Information and Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Asiayon opened book shops and souvenir shops on the hill. Committee for Raising the Fund of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image held a co-ordination meeting at the briefing hall of the hill this afternoon. Chairman of the Committee for Raising the Fund Vice-Chairman of YCDC Col Maung Pa explained the financial statement and future tasks. Those present took part in the discussions. Donations to the funds of the image made by well-wishers have amounted to K 155,691,703 to date.

Homage paid to Shwehtidawgyi of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda

Yangon, 13 March-Devotees and members of the Sangha today packed at the Chanthagyi hall on the platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda, where the Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and Shwehtidawgyi to be hoisted atop the Hsandaw-shin Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda are kept for public obeisance until 16 March. Devotees are donating cash and jewellery for the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, and 258 devotees donated K 2,754,325 and 258 kinds of jewellery on 12 March.

612 gem merchants arrive

Yangon, 13 March - Four hundred and two gem merchants from 178 companies of 14 countries and Hong Kong and 210 from Myanmar companies totalling 612 arrived here to date to attend the 38th Myanma Gems Emporium exceeding the expected number of over 300 buyers. Foreign merchants were 308 from 139 companies of Hong Kong, 11 from five companies of Japan, 20 from seven companies of the People's Republic of China, 37 from nine companies of Thailand, four from three companies of Singapore, two from a company of Russian Federation, five from three companies of Malaysia, one from a company of Sri Lanka, four from three companies of the United States, one from a company of Germany, one from a company of India, two from two companies of France, three from a company of Austria, one from a company from Switzerland and two from a company from Ukraine.

At the competitive bidding for jade, lot No 1064 comprising and four raw commercial jade blocks and weighing 319 kilos will be sold at the highest floor price of US $ 288,000. A total of 1,259 jade lots including the lot No 1064 will be sold at the total floor prize of US $ 13.21 million. A total of 422 gem lots including lot No 174, a raw ruby from Mongshu, at the highest floor price of US $ 1,080,000, will be sold through competitive bidding at a total floor price of over US $ 14.53 million. A total of 34 pearl lots including lot No 34 at the highest floor price of US $ 7,000, will be sold through competitive bidding at a total floor price of over US $ 66,500. The local and foreign gem merchants viewed the gems, pearls and jewellery on display at the emporium for the third day from 9 am to 5 pm today. Secretary of 38th Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee Managing Director of Myanma Gems Enterprise U Khin Oo and members rendered necessary assistance to the merchants. More local and foreign merchants will arrive here on 14 March. As jade, gems and pearls of international quality are included in the competitive bidding, sales are expected to exceed the reserve prices.

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( 7 )  Foodstuffs donated by wellwishers for Tatmadawmen sent to forward areas

Yangon, 13 March-Wellwishers are presenting foodstuffs to the Tatmadaw-men in the discharge of duties at the risk of their lives in far-flung forward areas and border areas. A group led by General Staff Officer (Grade III) Capt Khine Tun of Office of Strategic Studies transported the foodstuff donated by the people to the Tatmadawmen for the fourth time this morning.

The foodstuffs included 260 boxes each containing 180 Mamee noodle packets, 280 boxes each containing 50 cigarette cartoons, 210 boxes each containing 96 tins of Fantasy soft drink, 70 boxes of Oishi fried potato chips, 160 boxes each containing 24 tins of canned fish, 35 boxes each containing 48 tins of canned beef/fish, 256 boxes of Super coffeemix packets, 60 boxes each containing 27 King Quakeroat packets, 50 boxes each containing 20 bottles of purified Ayeyawady edible oil, four boxes each containing 25 Monhinga powder packets, 200 boxes each containing 12 bottles of Happy soft drink, 100 boxes of Mo Mo snacks, 10 boxes of Mother's Choice, 110 boxes each containing 12 tins of Sharanti soft drink and 100 boxes of Top detergent powder with total weight of about 28 tons were transported to the far-flung forward areas and border areas  by a motorcade which left here at 5.45 am. Before transporting the foodstuff, Deputy Chief of Office of Strategic Studies Deputy Director of Defence Services Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win inspected the foodstuffs at Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road and gave necessary instructions to officials.

Gifts for Institute of Marine Technology

Yangon, 13 March-Under the sponsorship of Today Top Star Co Ltd and JJ International of Japan, a ceremony to transfer the training equipment for maritime training and education in Myanma by Japan's Grass Roots Grant Assistance to the Institute of Marine Technology of the Ministry of Transport was held at the meeting hall of IMT in Hsinmalaik, Kamayut Township this morning. It was attended by Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Deputy Minister U Pe Than, the directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises under the ministry, Japanese Ambassador Mr Shigeru Tsumori, Managing Director Dr Wa Wa Sein of Today Top Star Co Ltd, officials of JJ International and Japan's Grass Roots Grant Assistance and officials. Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe and Japanese Ambassador Mr Shigeru Tsumori made speeches on the occasion. Later, the ambassador transferred the documents related to the training equipment to Principal of IMT U Win Theim. Then, the minister and the ambassador exchanged gifts. After the ceremony, the minister and party inspected the training equipment's.

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( 8 ) Use of wood substitute fuel briefed exhibited

Yangon, 13 March -A meeting to explain the use of wood substitute fuel was held at the sports ground of Forest Department in Insein this morning.Chairman of Wood Substitute Fuel Utilization Committee Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone explained points of the meeting.

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