Indian Vice-President, wife and party visit Mandalay

NAY PYI TAW, 8 Feb—The visiting goodwill delegation led by Indian Vice-President Mr Shri M Hamid Ansari and wife, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Maj-Gen Thein Tun and wife, Indian Ambassador Mr Aloke Sen and Director-General U Kyaw Kyaw of the Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrived at Mandalay from Yangon by special aircraft at 1.10 p.m., yesterday.
They were welcomed at Mandalay International Airport by Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe and wife, Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mayor Brig-Gen Phone Zaw Han and wife, officials, Consul-General Shri YP Singh and officials of the Indian Consulate-General in Mandalay. At 5.30 p.m., the visiting Indian President, wife and party offered flowers and water to Buddha Images at Hsutaungpyae Pagoda on Mandalay Hill. They enjoyed the scenic beauty at sunset of Mandalay City. The Indian Vice-President presented cash donation to members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees.
In the evening, the mayor hosted a dinner in honour of the Indian delegation led by the Indian Vice-President and wife at Sedona Hotel in Mandalay. It was also attended by Commander Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe and wife, Minister for CPT Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, officials of MCDC and departments concerned, Indian Ambassador Mr Aloke Sen, Indian Consul-General Shri YP Singh of Mandalay and officials. At 10 a.m., today, the Indian Vice-President and party attended the ceremony to ink the agreement to inaugurate the Trans-Border Optical Fiber Communication Link between Myanmar and India at Sedona in Mandalay.
The Indian Vice- President and the Minister formally opened the ceremony, and the Minister gave a speech. Next, the Indian delegation members and those present viewed the clarification on Trans- Border Optical Fiber Communication Link project. The General Manager of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications and Group General Manager Mr NK Jian of Department of Telecom, India signed the agreement on inauguration of the Trans-Border Optical Fiber Communication Link and exchanged notes.

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw extended greetings to the Indian Minister of Communications on telephone and presented gifts to the Indian Vice-President. Next, the Indian President, the minister and the deputy minister posed for documentary photo. Afterwards, the Indian guests visited Myanan Sankyaw Golden Palace Museum and Maha Lawka Marazein Kuthodaw Pagoda. At 1.25 p.m., the Indian delegation led by the Vice- President and wife left for India by special aircraft.

They were seen off at the airport by the commander and wife, the deputy minister and wife, the mayor and wife, Myanmar Ambassador U Kyi Thein and wife, Indian Ambassador Mr Aloke Sen and wife and officials, the director-general of the Protocol Department, departmental heads, the Indian consul-general of Mandalay and officials. Before departure, the commander presented a photo album on the goodwill visit and gift to the Indian Vice-President at the lounge of the airport.