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ARCHIVES	Tuesday, 1 April 2008	THE MYANMAR TIMES

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe welcomed back Prime Minister General Thein Sein who arrived back from Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic by special flight this evening after attending the Third Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS Summit).

Prime Minister General Thein Sein participated in the Third Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS Summit) from 30 to 31 March at the invitation of His Excellency Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein was also welcomed back at Nay Pyi Taw 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, Members of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Maung Bo, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win, Lt-Gen Aung Htwe and Lt-Gen Tin Aye, Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing of the Ministry of Defence, Military Affairs Security Chief Lt-Gen Ye Myint, Maj-Gen Tha Aye and Maj-Gen Khin Zaw of Ministry of Defence, Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, Deputy Minister for Transport Col Nyan Tun Aung, senior military officers, Director-General of the Office of the State Peace and Development Council Col Kyaw Kyaw Win and departmental officials, Charge d'Affairs of Embassy of Lao People's Democratic Republic Mr Thongkhoun Sengphachan and officials.

Members of the delegation Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Director-General of the Government Office Col Thant Shin and other members of the delegation also arrived back here on the same flight.

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March-Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Thein Sein called on President of Lao People's Democratic Republic Mr Choummaly Sayasone at Ho Kham Presidential Palace in Vientiane ,

Laos

, today.

Also present at the call were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Myanmar Ambassador to LPDR U Nyunt Hlaing, Director-General of Government Office Col Thant Shin, Director-General of Protocol Department U Kyaw Kyaw, departmental heads, Minister for the President's Office Mr Soubanh Srithirath, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Mr Sitaheng Latsaphone, Laotian Ambassador to the Union of Myanmar Mr Kouily A. Souphakhet and senior officials.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein said it is pleased to see that Laos has enjoyed fruits of development under the leadership of the president of LPDR and Laos could successfully hold the ASEAN Summit and the 3rd Summit of the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries. The Prime Minister explained the progress of Myanmar to the Laotian President.

The President of Lao PDR expressed his delight for cementing of bilateral ties and cooperation between the two nations and seeing all-out efforts being made by Myanmar government to bring about harmonious development of the nation. He also said that efforts for democracy transistion in Myanmar will meet with success and Laos as a good neighbour will continue supporting Myanmar .

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March - General Thein Sein, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, left here by a special flight for Lao PDR to attend the 3rd Greater Mekong Sub-Region Summit to be held in Vientiane, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, on 29 March.

He was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Director-General of Government Office Col Thant Shin and departmental heads.

They arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at 12.15 pm local standard time.

The Prime Minister was welcomed there by Myanmar Ambassador U Nyunt Hlaing, Deputy Director-General of the Protocol Department of Lao PDR Mr Viengloung Bhupha and Government Representative Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Mr Sitaheng Latsaphone.

Mr Viengloung introduced the Prime Minister to the Laotian senior government officers.

Myanmar

Ambassador U Nyunt Hlaing, Military Attache Brig-Gen Than Win and staff members of Myanmar Embassy in Vientiane welcomed the Prime Minister. Later, the Prime Minister and party went to Don Chan Palace Hotel.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein together with heads of governments from Greater Mekong Sub-region countries attend business and investment dialogue of Third Summit of GMS

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March - Prime Minister General Thein Sein of the Union of Myanmar together with heads of governments from Greater Mekong Sub-region countries attended the business and investment dialogue of the Third Summit of the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries held at Sky Lounge Private Room of Fourteen Level Don Chan Hotel in Vientiane of the Lao People's Democratic Republic at 4.15 pm yesterday.

Present on the occasion were Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of Thailand Mr Samak Sundaravej, Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung and ADB President Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, Foreign Minister U Nyan Win of the Union of Myanmar, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Myanmar Ambassador to Lao PDR U Nyunt Hlaing, Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations Department Daw Myo Nwe, Member of Board of Directors of Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Organization Vice-President of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry U Win Aung and members, ministers of GMS, coodinators of GMS, entrepreneurs of GMS and guests.

Laotian Prime Minister Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh presided over the meeting and delivered an opening speech on the occasion.

Next, Secretary-General of GMS Economic Forum Mr Oudet Souvannavong briefed on challenges of improving trade and investment in GMS, meeting chairman Mr Hoang Van Dung of GMS Economic Forum on private sector in the drive for implementing agree-ment on tran-sportation among GMS countries and former meeting chairman of board of directors and GMS Economic Forum and present member Dr Jingjai Hanchanlash on beefing up participation of small and medium businesses in the export market.

Afterwards, Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh, Thai Prime Minister Mr Samak Sundaravej and Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Nguyen Tan Dung made respective speeches on the occasion.

Prime Minister General Thein Sein of the Union of Myanmar made a speech on the occasion saying that since the establishment of the GMS in 1992, government officials, businessmen and academicians of the six countries have held active and fruitful discussions on how to deepen trade and economic cooperation and promote common de-velopment in the region, making valuable con-tribution to the friendly exchange and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region.

The theme of this dialogue is Enhancing trade and investment in the GMS in the context of economic globalization.

It is noted that three sub-titles have been discussed under three sessions according to the program.

It is also noted that the sub-titles, namely, (i) challenges to intra-GMS Trade and Improvements in the GMS investment climate, (ii) implementation of the GMS Cross-Boder Transport Agreement(CBTA): possible role for the private sector and (iii) enhancing investment of GMS small and Medium-Sized enterprises in the Export Market, have been deliberated by the GMS entrepreneurs.

Today, due to rapid development of economic globalization and regional integration, opportunities as well as challenges are arising in the region. We do believe that through cooperation of the member countries could take over the challenges and could achieve a win-win situation.

Implementation of the GMS Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA) will play as a supportive role for the facilitation of transport and trade. We need to explore possible ways and means how private sector can participate in the implementation of Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA). It is of my view that GMS business forum can play as a catalytic role to move forward this process.

Small and Medium Enterprises have been significantaly contributing in the economic development of the developing countries. On the other hand, the SMEs have also supported to the economic development through investment promotion and creation of employment opportunities.

As we all well aware public-private sector cooperation is also important in regional economic cooperation. collaboration of public and private sector will be an effective mechanism for enhancing infrastructure deveopment which requires heavy investment. Likewise, transport infrastructure is also a basis need for trade and investment facilitation.

In Myanmar , not only public sector investment but also private sector investments are taking part in the transport infrastructure development.

We have two investment Laws, namely, Foreign Investment Law and Myanmar Citizens Investment Law, aiming to induce Foreign Direct Investment as well as Domestic Investment.

Foreign investors are being allowed to carry out the projects of transportation, port construction, comprehensive port development, port handling services and other infrastructure development projects under the foreign investment law.

According to the Myanmar citizens Investment Law, private sector is being allowed to carry out the projects of road construction and renovation of existing roads and to make investment in the port construction and port development projects which require heavy investment, in this way, private sector is very supportive in realization of the infrastructure plan of the State.

Myanmar

has already signed the investment promotion and protection agreement with China , Vietnam , Lao PDR and Thailand which are GMS member countries. I presumed that the entrepreneurs would recollect these signed agreement. The signing of the agreement is an integral part of the economic cooperation among GMS countries and encouragement of private sector investment.

In Myanmar , hydro-power projects are being implemented in cooper-ation with investors from Thailand and China .

As regards, power generation project, oil and gas project, port development project, industrial zone and other infrastructure development project are being opened up for the private sector.

He said GMS countries are implementing the Strategic Framework for Action on Trade Facilitation and Investment (SFA-TFI) individually and collectively.

A major achievement in the GMS is the improved physical connectivity in the subregion nearly completion of the three main GMS transport corridors. A priority has been given to transform the three main GMS corridors to the economic corridors. Active participation of the private sector is necessary for completion of the full-fledge economic corridors.

Next, President of Asian Development Bank Mr Haruhiko Kuroda gave a speech. Prime Minister of LPDR Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh delivered a concluding speech.

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March - Accompanied by Daw Myat Ngwe, wife of Lt-Gen Ye Myint of Ministry of Defence, an excursion group comprising military attaches and their wives led by Military Attache of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Senior Col Le Van Thanh visited Taunggyi, Inle and Pintaya in Shan State (South) from 28 to 30 March.

The excursion group left Nay Pyi Taw for Shan State (South) on 28 March by car and arrived at Taunggyi in the afternoon. Military attaches and the com-mander played golf at Kanbawza Golf Course in Taunggyi and the excursion group visited Shwephonepwint Pagoda.

Chairman of Shan State Peace and Development Council Commander of Eastern Command Maj-Gen Thaung Aye and wife Daw Thin Myo Myo Aung hosted a dinner in hour of the excursion group at Ayethaya Resort Hotel in Taunggyi. Military Attache of Vietnam Senior Col Le Van Thanh presented a bouquet to the cultural troupe which perfomed at the dinner and Commander Maj-Gen Thaung Aye presented souvenirs to members of the excursion group.

On March 29, the excursion group went to Inle Lake and visited Seinthamadi Silversmith and Phaung-dawU Pagoda. They made cash donation at the pagoda.

Afterwards, they visited Myasatkya Weaving Factory at Innpawkon and Kaungtaing in Inle.

The excursion group went to Pintaya in the evening. During the visit to Pintaya, they visited Shwe-U-Min Cave yesterday. They left Taunggyi yesterday afternoon. They were seen off at Heho Airport by Daw Myat Ngwe, wife of Lt-Gen Ye Myint of Ministry of Defence, the chairman of Shan State Peace and Development Council, Commander Maj-Gen Thaung Aye and wife Daw Thin Myo Myo Aung and senior military officers.

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March - Minister for Electric Power No 2 Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint inspected construction of Shwesaryan Main Sub-power Station in Patheingyi Township on 24 March.

Project Manager U Zaw Ye Myint reported to the minister on progress of the construction work and connection of 230-KV twin bundle double circuit between Shweli and Shwesaryan through Mansan and construction of towers.

Afterwards, Minis-ter Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint visited the work site and inspected concrete structures constructed in the Switch Yard and preparation for transporting power to cables. During the inspection tour, the minister fulfilled the requirements.

NAY PYI TAW, 31 March-According to the observations at (09:30) hour M.S.T today, low pressure area over Southeast Bay and adjoining East Central Bay, isolated to scattered rain or thundershowers are likely in Rakhine, Mon and Kayin States, Ayeyawady, Yangon, Magway, Bago, Mandalay and Taninthayi Divisions within next (48) hours commencing today.