Towards more investments in China and ASEAN

Asia is the region that enjoys the fastest economic growth. China has become an economic power in the twenty first century and it can maintain its economic growth. With the rapid growth of exports and imports, China has created a favourable environment for foreign investment. ASEAN is taking effective measures for greater economic cooperation in the region with the objective of forming an ASEAN economic community in 2015. ASEAN region rich in natural and human resources is the one that offers good business opportunities for investors.
Business and Investment Summits between China and ASEAN have been held and thanks to their cooperation, achievements have been made not only in trade and investment sectors but in other economic fields. As Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China carry out tasks on promotion of economic cooperation, trade and investment, annual volume of trade between the two countries is on the increase. Most of the investments are in the sectors of mining, industry, oil and natural gas and electricity. Today the world is facing fuel and food crisis and ways and means are to be sought to exploit new energy resources and to produce energy in the ASEAN region. In the process, efficient cooperation among the nations is vital. As the agriculture sector plays a main role in economic development of most ASEAN nations, exchange of technology and research are necessary for boosting food production. Progress has been made in the efforts to establish Free Trade Area under the cooperation programme between China and ASEAN. Holding the 5th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, PRC, will continue to contribute to producing better resultsin trade and investment between ASEAN and China.

Senior General Than Shwe greets Prime Minister General Thein Sein
at Nay Pyi Taw Airport in Nay Pyi Taw.

NAY PYI TAW, 23 Oct—Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe welcomed back Prime Minister
GeneralThein Sein, who had attended the 5th China-ASEAN Expo and the 5th China- ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, at Nay Pyi Taw Airport at Senior General Than Shwe welcomes back Prime Minister General Thein Sein on his return from PRC 4.30 p.m today. The Prime Minister was also welcomed back at the airport by Vice- Chairman of the SPDC Deputy Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Commander-in- Chief (Army)Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, SPDC Member General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence, Secretary-
1 of the SPDC Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, SPDC Member Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyan Tun, Commander- in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Lt- Gen Myint Hlaing, Maj-Gen Ohn Myint and Maj-Gen Tha Aye
of the Ministry of Defence, Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win of the Ministry of Defence, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj- Gen Wai Lwin, Minister for Information Brig- Gen Kyaw Hsan, senior military officers, Director- General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Col Kyaw Kyaw Win, heads of department, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar Mr Wang Zongying and officials. Maj-Gen Maung Shein of the Ministry of Defence, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Electric Power No. 1 Col Zaw Min, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe, Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig- Gen Thein Zaw, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Senior General Than Shwe welcomes back Prime Minister General Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw Airport in Nay Pyi Taw.MNA Senior General Than Shwe greets Prime Minister General Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw Airport in Nay Pyi Taw. MNA Khaing, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint, Deputy Minister for Electric Power No. 2 Brig-Gen Win Myint, Director- General of the Government Office Col Thant Shin and departmental heads, who accompanied
the Prime Minister, also arrived back on the same flight.

Myanmar takes pride in China’s space walk success Prime Minister General Thein Sein meets Vice-Premier Mr Wang Qishan of PRC

Prime Minister General Thein Sein shakes hands with Chinese Vice-Premier Mr Wang
Qishan at International Convention Center

NAY PYI TAW, 23 Oct—Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein and Vice- Premier Mr Wang Qishan of the People’s Republic of China held a discussion at the Nanning International Convention & Exhibition Centre in Nanning of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at 3.35 p.m on 21 October. It was also attended by Maj-Gen Maung Shein of the Ministry of Defence, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Electric Power No. 1 Col Zaw Min, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen
Thein Swe, Deputy Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Khaing, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint, Deputy Minister for Electric Power No. 2 Brig-Gen Win Myint, Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin, Director-General Col Thant Shin of the Government Office and Director-General U Kyaw Kyaw of the Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Vice-Premier of the PRC was accompanied by the Vice-Chairman of the China Political Consultant Conference, Minister of Commerce Mr Chen Deming, Secretary of the Permanent Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Guo Shengkun, Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Ma Biao, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Wu Dawei, Vice Minister of Commerce Mr Gao Hucheng, Head of State Tourism Bureau Mr Sha Qiwei and the Chairman of the China International Trade Promotion
Committee. At the meeting, Prime Minister General Thein Sein said that Myanmar, a member of ASEAN, highly appreciates Chinese leaders organizing the 5th China- ASEAN Expo and the 5th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on a grand scale. He said he conveyed the greetings from Myanmar leaders — Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe, Vice-Chairman Vice- Senior General Maung Aye and SPDC member General Thura Shwe Mann. The Prime Minister continued to say that since he has assumed his duties his first visit to China was in August 2008 to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games that was the grandest ceremony Prime Minister General Thein Sein meets Vice-Premier Mr Wang Qishan of PRC Myanmar takes pride in China’s space walk success in the history of the World Olympic Games. He added
that the leaders of the Union of Myanmar, the government and Myanmar people are pleased with the successful organizing of the opening ceremony and Olympic Games the same as the Chinese leaders, the government and the Chinese people. He said that his presence at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games reflects further cementing the Myanmar-Chinese friendship that has been flourishing since yore. He noted that another victory of PRC was
the launching of the third spacecraft (Shanzhou-7) on 2 September and the space walk of astronaut for the first time. So, he said that he took pride in the abovementioned success that put on record once more for China as a world super power country. Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao proposed summits for China-ASEAN Expo and Business and Investment in 2003 and the 1st summit for China- ASEAN Trade Expo and Business & Investment was held in 2004.
Nanning in China, has hosted China-ASEAN Expo and 5th China-ASEAN Business & Investment summits every year. Thanks to China-ASEAN expos, the trade volume between China and ASEAN and China and Myanmar has increased, and at the expo and summit
this year, arrangements were made for cooperation between China and ASEAN not only in trade, investment and tourism sectors but also in the information and communication technology and agriculture sectors. Myanmar has participated in Nanning expo every year as from 2004 and it shows Myanmar’s serious attention to economic cooperation between
China and Myanmar. The economic relations between China and ASEAN as well as China and Myanmar would be strengthened. The 5th China-ASEAN Expo and the 5th China- ASEAN Business & Investment Summit will strengthen the economic cooperation between China and ASEAN nations by establishing a free trade zone. In accordance with the motto of 5th China-
ASEAN Expo and 5th China-ASEAN Business & Investment Summit “Broader Vision, Move Action”, efforts for cooperation in various areas are to be stepped up effectively. Regarding the progress in political situation in Myanmar, the new constitution of the country has been ratified as 92.48 per cent of eligible voters totaling over 27 million voted in favour of the
constitution. The country will become a democratic country after holding a multi-party election in 2010. Prime Minister General Thein Sein said he believed that China would continue to support steps for transforming the country into a peaceful and discipline flourishing democratic nation. He said that Myanmar was hit hard by the storm“Nargis” on 2 and 3 May, and it was the worst natural disaster in the Myanmar history. Leaders of China sent messages of sympathy and relief supplies worth 10 million US dollars to Myanmar,
and that was an encouragement to the entire Myanmar people, he said.Now, rescue work has
been completed. The work for helping the storm victims return to normal and for their
long-term development has showed successful to a certain degree, he said. He said that as the
second phase, rehabilitation tasks are being carried out step by step; that durable houses that are better than their houses in the pre-storm period have been provided, and all necessary
measures were taken for the victims to restore their agricultural farming, fishing and salt
farming. Those regions are located in the delta, so they have a large number of rivers and creeks, and are difficult of access; that therefore five roads are under construction for smooth transport; and that cyclone shelters are being constructed, he said. Myanmar supports
One-China Policy and considers Taiwan Island as an inseparable part of China, he said.
He wished Chinese leaders including the Chinese Vice-Premier physical and mental
wellbeing; the People’s Republic of China and Chinese people greater development, China-
Myanmar relations and friendly relations between the two peoples further cemented.
He said that after Chinese Vice-Premier Madam Wu Yi visited Myanmar in 2004, the trade
between the two countries improved remarkably; and many cases the two countries have to deal with, some have been implemented, and some are yet to be implemented. Chinese Vice-Premier Mr Wang Qishan said that in more than 50 years there had been a lot of changes in the international relations, but no changes in the relations between the two countries. He said that the two countries managed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the political sector and bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade sectors
is improving. China appreciates China-Myanmar relations considerably. He believed
bilateral cooperation would continue to improve, he said. China wished Myanmar political
stability, economic growth and reconciliation of ethnic groups, he said. He said that the
Myanmar government and the people alone can address the internal affairs of the nation with selfreliant basis; that the Chinese Government opposes any forms of alien interference in the internal affairs of Myanmar. China is one of Myanmar’s neighbouring countries that favour progress of Myanmar, and China places emphasis on mutual cooperation of the two countries in various sectors, he said. He said that he was pleased to tell the Myanmar Prime Minister that the Chinese government has decided to provide 200 cargo coaches, 20 passenger coaches and five locomotives for Myanmar; and that therefore it is required of respective ministries of the two nations to coordinate as soon as possible. In conclusion, he said that on behalf of the
Chinese government he warmly welcomes the Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister General Thein Sein to the 5th China-ASEAN Expo and the 5th China-ASEAN Business and InvestmentSummit.
MNA

Senior General Than Shwe sees off Prime Minister on his departure for PRC to attend 5th China-ASEAN Expo, 5th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summ

Senior General Than Shwe sees off Prime Minister General Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw Airport on his departure for
the People’s Republic of China to attend the 5th China-ASEAN Expo and the 5th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.—MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 20 Oct—Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe saw off Prime Minister General Thein Sein at Nay Pyi Taw Airport at 10 a.m today on his departure for the People’s Republic of China to attend the 5th China- ASEAN Expo and the 5th China-ASEAN Business
and Investment Summit to be held in Nanning at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Senior General Than Shwe sees off Prime Minister on his departure for PRC to attend 5th China-ASEAN Expo, 5th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit The Prime Minister was also seen off at the airport by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Maung Aye, member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann of the Ministry of Defence, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, SPDC member Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Commander- in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyan Tun, Commander-
in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen Myat Hein, Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing, Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Maj-Gen Ohn Myint, Maj-Gen Ko Ko, Maj-Gen Tha Aye and Adjutant General Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung of the Ministry of Defence, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Deputy Minister for Transport Col Nyan Tun Aung, senior military officers, Director-General Col Kyaw Kyaw Win of the SPDC Office, heads of
department, Charge d’Affaires of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar Mr Wang
Zongying and officials. The Prime Minister- led delegation comprises Maj-Gen Maung
Shein of the Ministry of Defence, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development
U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Electric Power No. 1 Col Senior General Than Shwe sees off Prime Minister… Zaw Min, Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Thein Swe, Minister
forCommunications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig- Gen Thein Zaw, Deputy Minister for
Industry-2 Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Khaing, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint, Deputy Minister for Electric Power No. 2 Brig-Gen Win Myint, Director- General Col Thant Shin of the Government Office and departmentalheads.

Pyapon of Ayeyawady Division rising with renewed vigour

We mediamen recently made a trip to Pyapon inAyeyawady Division to present news about regionaldevelopment and businesses of local people for publicinformation.Along the road to Pyapon, about 17 miles fromDedaye, were thriving paddy fields, some were greenish,
and some, yellowish.Besides agricultural farming, the main business,local people ran livestock farms of pigs, chicken,goat, duck and fish both on a manageable scale andon a commercial scale.
Rehabilitation work in the storm-hit areas iscategorized into three phases. The first phaseofrescue tasks such as fulfillment of three basic needs,health care and evacuation has been completed. Thesecond phase: regeneration of devastated urban areasand villages, restoration of businesses, and repairingtransport facilities, and the third phase: establishment
of storm shelters are in progress. In the process, tasks are being carried out according to the targeted timeframes. Pessimists seem anxious to see storm victims waiting for relief supplies along the roads, and they are not happy with the programmes of rehabilitating the storm-ravaged areas, and restoration of businesses for the victims’ long-term convenience in their basic needs. They have done nothing to relieve the sufferings of the victims, but are resorting to various means to disrupt the tasks the government is implementing to fulfil the requirements of the people. Now, delta dwellers have made a good recovery from the storm thanks to the combined efforts of the government, the people and the Tatmadaw, relief aid provided by national entrepreneurs, and their hard work and unwavering spirit. When asked about progress in carrying out rehabilitation tasks, Chairman of Pyapon District Peace and Development
Council U Mya Kyaing said, “Now, we have restored all the agricultural farms and fishing
in the district, and transport of rice and marine products to Yangon and other townships has returned to normal. We are working hard for the salt farming to return to normal when it is in season. “To restore the agricultural sector, we have distributed 245,725 baskets of paddy seeds of highyield strains, 56,800 gallons of fuel, 320 pieces of power-tillers of Leya-22, Leya-16 and Ayeya-1 brands, 393 buffalos, 130 oxen, and different kinds of fertilizers. And we have provided small loans of 462.6 million kyats to 6946 farmers for 57,825 acres of farmlands. “As a result, 197,761 acres or over 97 per cent of targeted 203,830 acres have been put under monsoon
paddy in the 2008-2009. We are working hard to complete the growing of monsoon paddy in the remaining acres. Now, 23 rice mills of above 15 tons and 182 horlers have resumed their production lines. “We have distributed 1000 fishing boats, 388 engines, and fishing nets and equipment in Pyapon Township. “Victims in the township have been able to restore their businesses. Rehabilitation tasks have showed successful. So, I would say all the urban
areas and villages in Pyapon Township have returned to normal. “The government has provided local farmers with food that is enough till paddy is harvested. So, there is no need to be worried about food in the interval. Paddy will be in season soon.” Farmer Maung Wa Gyi of Kyonku Village in Pyapon said, “I have run my farms since I was 18. Now, I grow Hsinthwelat strain paddy in 10 acres, and Pawhsan strain paddy, in five acres. As you see, paddy plants are now in fruit. Paddy fields did not turn bad as much as we thought. I have received 20 baskets of paddy seeds and 30 gallons of fuel provided by the government. The government also provided
fertilizer, power-tillers, and cattle. Farmers around our village have also got a lot of assistance for their agricultural farming. I have learnt that their paddy fields are thriving.” Pyapon District Assistant Engineer In Charge U Myo Zaw Oo of Pyapon Auto Exchange of the Myanma Posts and Telecommunications said, “Pyapon Auto Exchange has been resumed since 10 am on 6 May. Almost all the phone lines were restored in one month after the storm. Few days ago,
the underground cable cracked and it got some water in it. So, 29 of the 120 phone lines in Pyapon did not work. Some cables were replaced with new ones and some were repaired. Now, all the 750 phone lines in Pyapon Township are in good condition.” We stayed there for the night. We went shopping in the centre of the town that evening. In response to my question, a shop owner said, “The shops here are not as busy as in the pre-storm period because the
government and local and foreign donors have provided the victims with a lot of relief supplies. So, they no longer need to come here to go shopping. Before the storm, they often came here to buy things they needed. So, trade was very good then.” On our way home from Pyapon, we saw many rice mills along the road with their chimneys producing smoke. Now, local people have restored their businesses and started a new life. Pyapon Pawhsanhmwe strain paddy will soon be in season to maintain good reputation for its sweet smell and excellent taste.

Sports Minister opens MHF’s Cup 2008

YANGON, 19 Oct — Chairman of MyanmarOlympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen
Thura Aye Myint addressed the opening ceremony ofMyanmar Hockey Federation’s Cup 2008 at Theinbyuhockey pitch here at 3 p.m yesterday evening.Present on the occasion were members of MOC,officials of the ministry, President of the WorkingCommittee (Central) of Myanmar Women’s SportsFederation Daw Aye Aye and members, Chairman of
MHF Col Htin Zaw Win and executives.Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint opened
the competitions. Next, the team of Tatmadaw HockeySports Minister opens MHF’s Cup 2008
Committee and Central Command’s team demonstratedtheir skills in the competition and concluded theceremony.A total of 13 teams are participating in thecompetition, which will last till 3 November.Similarly, Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myintaddressed the opening ceremony of the 8th Inter State/Division Billiard and Snooker Competition at ApexBilliard and Snooker Centre here at 4 pm yesterday.Next, the minister opened the competition.Altogether 10 teams from state and division areparticipating in the competition.—MNA

Secretary-1 and wife enjoy Drama Contest

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and wife Daw Khin Saw Hnin enjoy presentation of drama troupe representing YangonDivision in the drama contest.— MNA

NAY PYI TAW, 19 Oct— Patron of the LeadingCommittee for Organizing the 16th Myanmar TraditionalCultural Performing Arts Competitions Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development CouncilLt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo and wife
Daw Khin Saw Hnin enjoyed presentation of thedrama troupe representing Yangon Division in theSecretary-1 and wife enjoy Drama ContestDrama Contest at the convocation hall of Universityof Veterinary Science yesterday evening.Also present on the occasion were Chairman ofthe Leading Committee for Organizing the PerformingArts Competitions Commander of Nay Pyi TawCommand Maj-Gen Wai Lwin and wife, Vice-ChairmanMinister for Culture Maj-Gen Khin Aung Myint,Minister for Education Dr Chan Nyein and wife,member of Civil Service Selection and TrainingBoard U Win Aung, the director-general of theSPDC Office, departmental heads, the secretary andmembers of the work committee, members of thepanel of judges (central), judges of States and Divisionsand drama lovers.—MNA

Promote community-based maternal and child health

The government has laid down theobjective of uplifting health and educationstandards of the entire nation and isimplementing them. It also carries out publichealth development tasks in accord with theguideline of the National Health Committee.Myanmar Maternal andChildWelfareAssociation volunteers for improvement ofpublic health standards and State, Division,District Maternal and Child WelfareSupervisory Committees and over 300Township MCWAs are actively participatingin community-based health care services.In Myanmar there are over one millionpregnant women every year and thegovernment promotes its health care servicesfor mothers and newborn babies. Midwivesare being trained with the aim of having one
skilled midwife in every village. Moreover,courses on antenatal and newborn babies care
are being conducted for auxiliary midwives.Priority is being given to holding ofeducative talks on antenatal and post-natalcare, baby care under five, nutrition for motherand child and vaccination at health care centresin urban and rural areas.Measures relating to systematic healthcare services during pregnancy and before andafter birth, prevention of infectious diseasesthrough sex and reproductive health are beingtaken on a wide scale. Now, three-fourths ofpregnant women in Myanmar are under thesystematic care of well-trained health staff.It is necessary for members of MCWAand wellwishers to take part in communitybased
welfare services such as giving vitaminpills and additional food for nutrition while thegovernment is promoting maternal and childhealth care services nationwide.
Promote community-basedmaternal and child healthcare services nationwide.

IMF’s Strauss-Kahn says worst of crisis may be over

The head of the IMF said on Monday the worst of the financial crisis was possibly over, and the Fund would draw lessons from the crisis to make proposals to reform the international financial system.
IMF Managing Director Dominique StraussKahn said individual states should intervene when necessary according to their own specific needs, but it was important that any intervention should be “massive”. “I think that thanks to the decisions that have just been taken, the peak of the crisis is perhaps behind us. That’s what we’ll see in coming days”, Strauss-Kahn told French radio Europe 1. He said the full extent of the losses caused by the crisis would not be known for some time.
“The decisions that have been made over the past three days have the right elements to reassure,” Strauss-Kahn said. “The principles have to be the same everywhere ... and the implementation has to be on a country by country basis, according Tibor, a one-year-old southern white rhinoceros, learns fighting skills from his father, Atari, at the Zoological Centre Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan. He was the first rhino born at the park in 15 years.—I NTERNET
to local specificities in law, the history of the country and the structure of the banking industry,” he said. “Any intervention must be massive”.
Strauss-Kahn said the IMF would quickly present a report drawing lessons from the crisis, adding that the Bretton Woods institution should be given a bigger role in monitoring the financial system. “Surveillance (by the IMF) already exists today but it doesn”t stretch widely enough to all financial questions", he said.

U-21 Tatmadaw (Army,Navy and Air ) Football Tournament continutes

The second round matches of the 24 th Defence Services Commander-in-Chief’s Cup U-21 Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Football Tournament kicked off at Eastern Command Zone (Taunggyi) this evening.
At the sports ground in Taunggyi, Defence Services (Air) team beat South-West Command team 2-0 and Northern Command team hammered Coastal Region Command team 5-0.