( 1 ) Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing welcome Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and wife and party

Yangon, 1 May— At the invitation of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf and Pakistani goodwill delegation arrived here by Special Aircraft at 1.40 pm today on a goodwill visit to the Union of Myanmar.

Visiting Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf and members of the delegation were welcomed on arrival at the Yangon International Airport by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, 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-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife, member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and wife, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and wife, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi and wife, Ambassador of Myanmar to Islamic Republic of Pakistan U Soe Win and wife, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Mr Ly Bounkham and wife and Heads of Diplomatic Missions and UN agencies in Yangon and their wives and Pakistani Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Mian Yusuf Shah and wife, staff and families of the Pakistani Embassy.

Schoolgirls welcomed the Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan waving miniature flags of the two countries and chanting goodwill slogans.

As the special aircraft carrying the visiting General and wife and party arrived at the airport at 1.40 pm, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department and Pakistani Ambassador Mr Mian Yusuf Shah boarded the aircraft and welcomed the distinguished guests.

The visiting Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan was accorded a 19-gun salute.

Two Myanmar young ladies presented bouquets to the visiting General and wife.

The visiting General and wife were then greeted by Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing. Next, the Senior General presented his entourage to the visiting General.

Afterwards, the Senior General and wife and party and the visiting General and wife and party went to the reception hall of the airport. Then, the visiting General and the Senior General proceeded to the saluting dais and took the salute of the Guard of Honour, while the State Band played the national anthems of the two countries.

The visiting General and the Senior General inspected the Guard of Honour.

The visiting General and the Senior General were greeted by the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, diplomats and heads of UN agencies in Yangon and their wives, the Pakistani Ambassador and wife and staff of the embassy.

The guests, accompanied by the Senior General and Madame Than Shwe, proceeded to Seinle Kantha State House in a motorcade. Teachers, schoolgirls, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association, Maternal and Child Welfare Association, Red Cross and Auxiliary Fire Brigades, nurses and people totalling 7,500 warmly greeted the guests from the airport to Seinle Kantha State House along University Avenue wishing the guests and the Senior General and Madame Than Shwe good health and hailing Pakistan-Myanmar friendship.

In according a grand welcome to the visiting General and wife and party an archway was put up at the entrance to the Yangon International Airport welcoming the distinguished guests in both Myanmar and English "Warm welcome to Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf " banners posted on Pyay Road at the entrance to the airport, at 8th Mile, at the corner of Inyalay, in front of Inya Lake bund, at the entrance to the State House, at the junction of Kamayut, along University Avenue leading to Seinle Kantha State House, at Hanthawady Round-about, U Wisara Roundabout and the People’s Square.

The guests together with Senior General and wife arrived at Seinle Kantha State House at 2.15 pm. Then, the Senior General and wife greeted the visiting General and wife and then left the House.

The visiting General and wife were accompanied by Prof Dr Atta ur Rehman, Minister of Science and Techno-logy, Mr Tariq Ikram, Minister and Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau, Government of Pakistan, Mr Inam ul Haque, Foreign Secretary and other high-ranking officials and businessmen.

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( 2 )  Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing host dinner in honour of visiting Pakistani General and wife and party

Yangon, 1 May— Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing hosted a dinner in honour of Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf and goodwill delegation members at the Reception Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw Building on Pyay Road at 7.30 pm today.

Also present at the dinner were 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-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Kyi Min and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Kyaw Than and wife, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than and wife, Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin and wife and Lt-Gen Tin Tun and wife, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla and wife, the ministers and their wives, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and wife, Myanmar Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan U Soe Win and wife, Pakistani Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Mian Yusuf Shah and wife and staff of the Embassy, ambassadors of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and their wives, the Charge d’Affaires ai of the Nepalese Embassy and wife, departmental heads, Pakistani businessmen, the President of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, officials and guests.

The State Band played the national anthems of the two countries.The Senior General and wife and the visiting General and wife gave the blessings together with those who were present at the dinner.

Before and during the dinner, vocalists performed songs to the accompaniment of Myanma Athan modern music troupe. After the dinner, artistes of the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture enterained the audience with cuttural dances.After the cultural dances, the visiting General and wife presented the flower basket to the artistes.

Yangon, 1 May—Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe received Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf, currently on a goodwill visit to Myanmar, at the Credentials Hall of the Pyithu Hluttaw building this evening.

Present on the occasion together with Senior General Than Shwe were Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Ambassador of Myanmar to Pakistan U Soe Win and Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.

Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf was accompanied by Minister of Science and Techno-logy of Pakistan Professor Dr Atta ur Rehman, Minister and Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Mr Tariq Ikram, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Inam ul Haque and high-ranking officials and Ambassador of Pakistan to Myanmar Mr Mian Yousuf Shah.

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( 3 ) Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation between Myanmar and Pakistan signed

Yangon, 1 May-A ceremony to sign an agreement on science and technology cooperation between the Union of Myanmar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was held at Pyithu Hluttaw building at 5.10 pm today. It was attended by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Prime Minister Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint, ministers, deputy minister for Foreign Affairs, Myanmar Ambassador to Pakistan U Soe Win, Chief Executive and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and ministers, high-ranking officials and Pakistan Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Mian Yousuf Shah. At the ceremony, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung and Minister of Science and Technology Prof Dr Atta ur Rehman signed the agreement and exchanged the documents.

Pakistani General and wife plant tree to mark goodwill visit at People's Park and People's Square

Yangon, 1 May- At the invitation of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf planted the Golden Champa/ Michelia Champaca tree to mark the goodwill visit at the People's Park and the People's Square at the corner of Pyay Road and Ahlon Road this evening.

The visiting General and wife, accompanied by Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi and wife Daw Khin Mar Aye, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win and wife Daw Khin Swe Soe, Myanmar Ambassador to Pakistan U Soe Win and wife Daw Khin Win Kyi, Director-General Thura U Aung Htet and wife Daw Saw Mya, Pakistani Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Mian Yusuf Shah and wife and officials, arrived at the People's Park and the People's Square where they were welcomed by Vice-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa and wife Daw Khin Nyunt Myaing, Deputy Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint and YCDC member U Aung Soe. Then, the Pakistani General and wife planted a Golden Champa/ Michelia Champaca tree to mark the goodwill visit at the designated place in the People's Park and the People's Square.

Next, the Pakistani General and wife and delegation members had documentary photo taken in front of the tree. After that, the Pakistani General and wife and party proceeded to King Zafar Shah's Tomb on Ziwaka Road in Dagon Township. They were welcomed there by District Commissioner of Yangon West District General Administration Department U Yan Myo Aung Thein and officials. Then, the visiting Pakistani General and wife and party paid respects at the Tomb and presented cash towards the funds of the Tomb. The Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Tomb accepted the donations and presented a certificate of honour to the visiting General.

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( 4 ) Begum Pervez Musharraf visits MMCWA

Yangon, 1 May-Begum Pervez Musharraf, wife of Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and members, currently on a goodwill visit to Myanmar at the invitation of Chairman of the State Peace and Deve-lopment Council Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, accompanied by Daw Khin Mar Aye, wife of Minister for Energy, Daw Khin Swe Soe, wife of Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win, Daw Khin Win Kyi, wife of Myanmar Ambassador U Soe Win and wife of Ambassador of Pakistan to Myanmar arrived at Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association at the corner of Thanthuma Road and Parami Road in South Okkalapa Township this evening.

They were welcomed by Chairperson of MMCWA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice-Chairpersons Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and Dr Kyi Soe and CEC members. Joint Secretary of MMCWA Dr Nwe Oo introduced CEC members to the guests. Chairperson Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe reported on activities of the association. Begum Pervez Musharraf, Chairperson Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice-Chairpersons Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and Dr Kyi Soe and CEC members discussed matters on maternal and child care. Then, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and guests exchanged gifts. Begum Pervez Musharraf signed in the visitors' book and observed documentary photos on activities of the association and international cooperation and functions of associations at different level and shops of States and Divisions in commemoration of the 11th Conference of MMCWA.

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( 5 ) Secretary-1 and wife call on Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf

Yangon, 1 May-Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe called on Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf, currently here on a goodwill visit to Myanmar, at the invitation of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, at Seinle Kantha State House this evening. Present together with Chief Executive and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Begum Pervez Musharraf were the ministers and other high-ranking officials and Ambassador of Pakistan to Myanmar Mr Mian Yousuf Shah. The Secretary-1 and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe were accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung and wife, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi and wife, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win and wife, Myanmar Ambassador to Pakistan U Soe Win and wife, and Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet.

Secretary-1 receives Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam

Yangon, 1 May-Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Prince Mohamad Bolkiah at the guest house of the Ministry of Defence this morning. Present on the occasion together with the Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win, Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam Pehin Datu Pekerina Bijiya Col (Retd) Dato Paduka Haji Hussin bin Haji Sulaiman and members of the delegation.

Secretary-1 receives Vice-President and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines

Yangon, 1 May-Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt received Vice-President and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Mr Teofisto T Guingona, Jr, at the guest house of the Ministry of Defence this morning. Present on the occasion together with the Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win, Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet, Ambassador of the Philippines Mrs Phoebe A Gomez and members of the delegation.

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( 6 ) Minister receives Pakistani guests

Yangon, 1 May-Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung received Chairman Mr S M Saboor of Geofman Corporation, Pakistan and party at his office at 4 pm yesterday. Also present at the call were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, Director-General U Tin Hlaing of Directorate of Industries, Director-General U San Kyi of Regional Industrial Coordination and Inspection Department, General Manager U Zaw Win of Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries and Head of Office U Myint Swe.

UMFCCI president receives Pakistani businessmen

Yangon, 1 May- President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry U Win Myint, Vice-Presidents U Htein Win, U Win Aung and U Htay Myint, Secretary-General U Zaw Min Win, Central Executive Committe members and entrepreneurs received a seven-member Pakistani businessmen led by Pakistan-Myanmar Friendship Society Chairman Ms Shirin Naizi at the UMFCCI Building on Merchant Street at 4 pm today. They cordially discussed bilateral trade, technological cooperation, investment and export matters.

Minister receives Pakistani Minister of State & Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau

Yangon, 1 May- Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received Minister of State & Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Mr Tariq Ikram and party of Pakistan at his office this evening. Also present at the call were Director-General U Nyunt Aye of Directorate of Trade, Managing Director U Min Hla Aung of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading, Director-General U Thein Lwin of Border Trade Department and officials.

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( 7 ) Thai FM and party tour Mandalay, pay homage to Shwedagon Pagoda

Yangon, 1 May- After attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by the Union of Myanmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Mr Surakiart Sathirathai and party, currently here at the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung, accompanied by Director-General U Win Mra of International Organizations and Economic Department and officials, visited Mandalay this morning and arrived back here by air in the afternoon. The Thai Foreign Minister and party were welcomed at Mandalay International Airport by Secretary of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Tin Ohn and division-level departmental officials. While in Mandalay, the guests paid obeisance to Maha Muni Buddha Image, the Buddha Image on Mandalay Hill and Kyauktawgyi Buddha Image and made donations.

Afterwards, they visited Myanansankyaw Shwenan-daw and U Sein Myint's Golden Embroidery Enterprise. After that, Secretary of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Tin Ohn hosted a luncheon to the Thai Foreign Minister and party at Sedona Hotel. Then, the guests left Mandalay for Yangon. In the evening, the Thai Foreign Minister and party went to Shwedagon Pagoda where they were welcomed by members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees U Mya Thein and U Zaw Min. The guests paid obeisance to Jade Buddha Image and Kassapha Buddha Image at the western prayer hall. The Minister signed in the visitors' book and made donations. Then, the guests went round the pagoda and left there at 6 pm.

ASEAN foreign ministers leave for home

Yangon, 1 May -The ASEAN foreign ministers, the secretary-general- of ASEAN Secretariat, who attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by Myanmar in Yangon, and their wives left for home starting from this morning.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof S Jayakumar of the Republic of Singapore and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Alwi Shihab of the Republic of Indonesia left for home at 8 am, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Mohamad Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam at 10 am,Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Hor Namhong of Cambodia and Vice-President and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr Teofisto T Guingona, Jr of the Republic of the Philippines, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Nguyen Dy Nien of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Secretary-General Mr Rodolfo Certeza Severino, Jr of ASEAN secretariat at 10.30 am, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar of Malaysia at 12.15 pm, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Somsavat Lengsavad of the Lao People' s Democratic Republic in the evening. They were seen off at the airport by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win and wife Daw Khin Swe Soe, Director-General of ASEAN Affairs Department U Aye Lwin and wife. the heads of embassies in Yangon and staff.

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( 8 ) Microwave links launched

Yangon-1 May -Kale-Tiddim new microwave link was launched in Tiddim Township in Chin State on 29 April, addressed by Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin. He said opening of the microwave link ensures phone users in Tiddim to make trunk calls and international dialling round the clock and will help further develop the economic, administrative and social sectors of the region.

The government spent US$ 0.61 million and K 34.57 million in erecting the link. Inter-town 50-line capacity exchange system was initiated in the town in 1979 and that the exchange system was extended to 200 lines at present. Regional Control Command (Kale) Commander Brig-Gen Regional Control Command (Kale) Commander Brig-Gen Khin Maung Aye also gave a speech. The next day, the minister attend the opening of Kale-Tamu microwave link in Kale Township. He said the new microwave link was installed at a cost of US $ 0.61 million and K 27.4 million.

The Kale-Tiddim and Kale-Tamu microwave links were covered by the project to improve communication systems in Ayeyawady River west bank and border regions which include nine links and the new Yangon-Mandalay microwave digital link. In implementing the project, Yangon-Mandalay link was launched on 14 October 1999 and other seven links Myinmu-Monywa link was launched on 16 March 2000; Loilan-Mogok link, on 14 August 2000; Taunggyi-Bahtoo link, on 22 August 2000; Kengtung-Tachilek link, on 6 October 2000; Pathein-Hainggyi Island link, on 18 November 2001; Minbu-An link, on I December 2000; and Sittway-MraukU-Kyauktaw link, on 14 December 2000.

Renovation works inspected in Bagan

Yangon, 1 May- Minister for Culture U Win Sein, accompanied by Director General of Archaeological Department U Nyunt Han, Deputy Director-General Upper Myanmar) U Aung Kyaing, Rector of University of Culture (Mandalay) U San Win and officials, arrived at Bagan Ancient Cultural Region yesterday morning. The minister inspected renovation and reconstruction of Hsinbyushin monastery and pagodas and gave necessary instructions.

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