The three nation-building forces, namely, the national people, the Tatmadaw and the government, join hands in implementing in earnest the basic objectives laid down by the government to bring about marked and rapid development in political, economic and social spheres. As a result, success has been achieved in various sectors.

Senior General Than Shwe Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (From message on the 51st Anniversary Union Day)

YANGON, 5 Feb - The Third Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image was held on Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township this morning, attended by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing.

Also present on the occasion were State Ovadacariya Sayadaws, Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Sayadaws, Sayadaws of the State Central Working Committee of the Sangha, Sayadaws of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University and State Pariyatti Sasana University (Yangon), and Sayadaws of Theravada Ovadacariya Committee and Yangon Division Sangha Nayaka Committee totalling 45 Sayadaws, Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, member of the State Peace and Development Council General Thura Shwe Mann and wife Daw Khin Lay Thet, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, members of the State Peace and Development Council and their wives, the chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council the commander of Yangon Command and wife, ministers, the chief justice, the attorney-general, the chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the Yangon mayor, deputy ministers, and senior military officers and their wives, the director-general of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, officials, the chairman and members of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Pagoda Board of Trustees, members of social organizations, donors and guests.

Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing paid obeisance to the Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Buddha Image, and offered flowers, water and "soon" to the image.

The ceremony to share merits was held at the Gandakuti of the pagoda at 7.15 am. The Master of Ceremonies adviser at the State Peace and Development Council U Arnt Maung read out the agenda. The congregation recited the Namo Tassa three times to open the ceremony. The Teingya Group blew conch shells and beat gongs.

Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Pañindabhivamsa administered the Nine Precepts to the congregation led by Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing. Sayadaws recited Metta Sutta and parittas.

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing presented robes and offertories to Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Kumara.

Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe presented robes and offertories to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pañindabhivamsa.

Daw Khin Than Nwe presented robes and offertories to State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Ñaninda.

General Thura Shwe Mann and Daw Khin Lay Thet presented robes and offertories to State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe presented robes and offertories to State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Nandavamsa.

Members of the State Peace and Development Council, the Yangon Command commander, ministers, the chief justice, the attorney-general, the chairman of CSSTB, the Yangon mayor and deputy ministers presented robes and offertories to Sayadaws.

Bhaddanta Kumara delivered a sermon, and the congregation shared the merits gained.

Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing and the congregation offered 'soon' to 500 Sayadaws led by State Ovadacariya Sayadaws and Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee. The artistes of the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture sang the religious songs.

Staff of the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister's Office, the Military Intelligence, the SPDC Office, the Adjutant-General's Office, the Quartermaster-General's Office, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air), ministries, the Supreme Court, the Attorney-General's Office, the Auditor-General's Office, the CSSTB, the Yangon City Development Committee and the Township Peace and Development Councils in Yangon Division and donors presented offertories to Sayadaws on the pagoda platform and at the northern stairway.

Thiri Thudhamma Manijota Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Manijotas Teingya U Than Hla, on behalf of the congregation, shared the merits gained.

Senior General Than Shwe and Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party inspected the all-round development project of the Mindhamma Hill and viewed the religious buildings on it.

YANGON, 5 Feb - Chairman of the Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt received a national race group from Manpan region led by U Sai Mon and another national race group from Monhin Monha region led by U Lawma at Zeyathiri Beikman on Konmyinttha here at 5 pm today.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein, Minister for Health Dr Kyaw Myint, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Maj-Gen Thein Swe, Vice-Chief of Military Intelligence Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Tin Ngwe, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Lt-Col Pe Nyein, Director-General of the Government Office U Soe Tint, and senior military officers of the Military Intelligence Headquarters.

On the occasion, the leaders of national race groups explained that they would take part harmoniously in the regional development measures under the leadership of the State. They also asked for assistance to be rendered to education, health, agriculture, livestock, road transportation, and business transactions.

Permission granted for retirement

The State Peace and Development Council has permitted U Ko Lay, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, to retire from duties with effect from today.

By order, Sd/ Soe Win Lieutenant-General Secretary-1 State Peace and Development Council

YANGON, 5 Feb - The Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw attended the 7th ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting, the third meeting of ASEAN and China, Japan and Korea tourism ministers' meeting and ASEAN Tourism Exhibition 2004 at Vientiane, the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The Myanmar delegation together with tourism ministers of ASEAN nations and the People's Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea attended the dinner hosted by Chairman of Laotian Tourism Administrative Body Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay at Lao Plaza Hotel on 2 February morning.

On 3 February morning, Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and party attended the 7th ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting. In the afternoon, the Myanmar delegation attended the third meeting of tourism ministers of ASEAN nations and the PRC, Japan and the ROK. Later in the afternoon, the tourism ministers held a press conference. In the evening, Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and party attended the opening of ASEAN Tourism Exhibition 2004. Laotian Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachith opened the exhibition. The Laotian Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Somsavat Lengsavad hosted a dinner to those present.

Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and party arrived back here by air yesterday evening. They were welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu and officials.

YANGON, 5 Feb - A work coordination meeting on year-round greening of the Yangon International Airport and its surrounding areas lying within the 30-mile radius was held at the briefing hall of the orchid farm of Myanma Agriculture Service in Mingaladon Township here this afternoon, with an address delivered by Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Chairman and Yangon Command Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe. Present at the meeting were Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint Thein, No 1 Military Region Commander Col Tun Kyi, Col Myat Thu of No 11 Light Infantry Division, local authorities, departmental officials, and guests. In his speech, Maj-Gen Myint Swe said arrangements are under way to grow monsoon and summer paddy, beans and pulses, edible oil crops, vegetables and cash crops in the 30-mile-radius of Yangon International Airport to make it lush and pleasant all the year round. The State also provides irrigation facilities, river water pumping projects, and power tillers to be able to implement the project. Efforts are to be made to extend sown acreage and to conduct more double cropping.

Next, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Myint Thein reported on assistance to be rendered for betterment of transportation in the zones. Officias of the zones also reported on progress of cultivating various kinds of crops and vegetables and conditions of irrigation facilities for supply of irrigation water.

Later, Deputy Director-General of the Irrigation Department U Khin Zaw presented progress reports on measures being taken for efficient supply of irrigation water and prospects of draining water from Moyungyi Lake; and Deputy Director-General of Water Resources Utilization Department U Hla Myint Maung on river-water pumping projects.

In response to the reports, the commander gave instructions and attended to the requirements. Afterwards, the commander and party inspected tasks being undertaken for supply of irrigation water for summer paddy fields, and fish ponds being conducted by Ayeyawady Naval Region Command Headquarters. Departmental officials conducted the commander and party round the paddy fields. After inspecting the paddy fields, the commander urged the officials to render assistance to farmers to be able to conduct the double cropping on a broader scale. The commander and party also looked into the thriving summer paddy fields of the battalions and units under the No 11 LID. After hearing the reports, the commander gave instructions on strict supervision for supply of irrigation water for success of summer paddy.

Next, the commander and party oversaw the progress of the tarring of the circular road linking No 1 Trunk Road with No 3 Trunk Road in Mingaladon Township and heard reports on construction of the road and tasks left to be done. After hearing the reports, the commander gave instructions on timely completion of the project meeting the set standard.

The commander also inspected the thriving summer paddy cultivated by the battalions and units under Yangon Command on both sides of No 3 Trunk Road in Mingaladon Township. After hearing the reports, the commander gave instructions on efforts to obtain the targeted yield of summer paddy and attended to the requirements.

YANGON, 5 Feb - A meeting was held at the Ministry of Information this afternoon to launch a new TV channel and to help the Myanmar TV and hoteliers and tour companies collectively run a media business.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said the media and tourism have interelationship. Tourism is a very important business for the nation. Thus, tourism plays a key role for national development and earns much income for the entrepreneurs who run it. The meeting was held to discuss the entrepreneurs' role in showing the world the tourist attractions and the objective conditions of the nation through the TV.

Through the Internet, the MRTV-3 programmes have reached the Eastern Europe and the American continent. In other words, we can say that it has reached the worldwide level. Plans are being made to telecast the MRTV-3 programmes in two sectors - the first sector is to promote international interest in Myanmar; and the second sector is to develop tourism with the help of advertisements.

The other aim of the meeting is to inform the entrepreneurs about the plans to launch a new TV channel highlighting, special education programmes on agricultural, livestock breeding, health, social and economic fields. The new channel will also covers telecasting of entertainment programmes including Myanmar films and video plays, dailies and periodicals. The new channel will help promote the tourism business if hotels and guest houses show its programmes to the guests.

Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung then discussed in detail the means to develop tourism.

Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw said the new channel will help foreigners know more about the natural and cultural riches of Myanmar. Thus, entrepreneurs should not miss the opportunity. Tourist industry will achieve greater success only if it cooperates with the media and the publicizing of the Salone Traditional Festival through the TV and dailies is one of the examples. Director-General of the MRTV U Khin Maung Htay explained the telecasting of the programmes.

Adviser to the Information Ministry Director of Forever Group Co Ltd U Win Maw presented the Myanmar Media Box (MMbox), a digital receiver, to receive the new channel and other programmes, and Managing Director of Inforithm Maze Co Ltd U Thaung Su Nyein explained a tourism promotion CD Rom - Fascinating Myanmar. Information Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Aung Thein and Transport Deputy Minister Col Nyan Tun Aung and other participants made suggestions sector-wise. Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan attended to the needs.

Also present were Secretary of Yangon City Development Committee Col Myint Aung, directors-general and managing directors of the respective ministries, IT entrepreneurs, hotel and tourism entrepreneurs and guests.

(b) Dr U Myat Moe, Rector,Traditional Medicine, Institute (Mandalay), Traditional MedicineDepartment, Ministry of Health