Senior General Than Shwe welcomes back General Soe Win who attended ACMECS Summit

YANGON, 4 Nov — The Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win arrived back here by special flight at 9.05 pm yesterday after attending the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister General Soe Win was welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council 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) 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 Thein Sein, members of the State Peace and Development Council, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air), the Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command, ministers, senior military offices, Charge d’Affaires ai of the Thai Embassy Mr Opas Chantarasap, departmental heads and officials.
Members of the delegation Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win and departmental heads also arrived back on the same flight.

Importance of close cooperation of the ACMECS members for their goods to gain a foothold in international market, and economic development stressed.

Only when private sector makes progress, will a nation be able to enjoy development
State-owned sector and private sector have to share difficulties and benefits in course of cooperation

YANGON, 4 Nov—Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win and heads of government of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) member countries held discussions with businessmen of the ACMECS Business Council from Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the Yellow Room of the Santi Maitri Building in Bangkok, Thailand, on 2 November evening.

Present on the occasion were Prime Minister General Soe Win, Cambodian Prime Minister Mr Samdech Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Mr Bounnhang Vorachith, Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr Phan Van Khai, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, ministers, deputy ministers and high-ranking officials from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, Vice-Presidents U Win Aung and U Sein Win Hlaing of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and businessmen of other ACMECS Business Council member nations.

Prime Minister General Soe Win arrived at the Santi Maitri Building in Bangkok at 5.55 pm local time where he was welcomed by the Thai Prime Minister. The Thai Prime Minister also welcomed the prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

At the meeting, representatives of respective Business Councils of the ACMECS member nations dealt with participation of private sector in trade and agriculture sectors for the development.

UMFCCI Vice-President U Win Aung discussed the role of the private sector in the tasks for the development of human resources and industrial sector for regional development.

The heads of the government assessed the reports.

Prime Minister General Soe Win in his assessment said that he would like to present the objectives of Bagan declaration of the first ACMECS at the meeting of heads of government of ACMECS member countries held in 2003.

The first ACMECS meeting took place in accordance with the approval on forming of business councils in respective nations for ensuring participation of the private sector in implementing the economic strategic goals.

He said it is heartening to hear the discussions on the participation of the private sector in the economic cooperation by the businessmen and their views. Only when private sector makes progress, will a nation be able to enjoy development. The state-owned sector and private sector have to share difficulties and benefits they gain while cooperating.

The matters the private sector presented such as international trade, payments, and issuing of certificates on hygiene have been included in the trade and investment of ASEAN and GMS.

He stressed the importance of close cooperation of the ACMECS members for their goods to gain a foothold in international market, and economic development.

After the meeting, the heads of the governments ACMECS members and businessmen representatives posed for documentary photos.

Prime Minister General Soe Win and party observed Thai traditional artistic works displayed at the Santi Maitri Building.

In the evening, Dr Thaksin Shinawatra hosted a dinner in honour of the heads of governments and parties at Santi Maitri Building.

The Thai Prime Minister extended greetings.

During the dinner, those present were entertained with songs and Thai traditional dance variety.

Prime Minister General Soe Win and party arrive Bangkok of Thailand

YANGON, 4 Nov — At the invitation of Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, Prime Minister General Soe Win of the Union of Myanmar, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha and departmental heads, left Yangon by special flight at 2 pm on 1 November to attend the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Prime Minister General Soe Win and party arrived at Dunmong International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, at 4 pm local time.

First, Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar to Thailand U Ye Win and Director-General Mr Phithak Phrombupha of Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand welcomed Prime Minister General Soe Win on board the aircraft.

When the Myanmar delegation led by the Prime Minister alighted from the plane, Thai Minister for Defence General Thammarak Isarangura Na Ayuthaya, Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Suphot Dhirakaosal and senior officials welcomed them. A Myanmar young lady presented a bouquet to Prime Minister General Soe Win.

Next, Myanmar Ambassador U Ye Win and wife Daw Ei Ei Khaing, Military Attaché Col Tin Soe and wife Daw San San Win, staff of the Embassy and the Military Attaché’s Office and family members welcomed the Prime Minister and party.

Afterwards, the Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister General Soe Win left in a motorcade for Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Hotel in Thailand.

Prime Minister meets with staff of Myanmar Embassy in Thailand

YANGON, 4 Nov — Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win met with embassy staff at Myanmar Embassy in Thailand on 2 November evening.

At the meeting, the prime minister said Myanmar has promoted mutual trust, respect, sympathy and friendship with other nations and is making efforts to enhance cordial relations with them while striving to expand mutual cooperation with added momentum. Hence, the nation is achieving success in expanding her scope of international relations.

Myanmar can still firmly stand with dignity thanks to the stand, sympathy and understanding of friendly nations despite the pressures of some quarters with unclear view on Myanmar.

Under the leadership of the Head of State, Myanmar has achieved development in education, health and social fields as well as economic growth in addition to progress in international affairs. The government has been building infrastructures that are necessary for development of the country, he added.

In his concluding remarks, the prime minister said, the staff of the embassy are to enhance their efforts to extend cooperation in various fields and to strengthen existing friendly relations with Thailand.

After the meeting, Prime Minister General Soe Win cordially greeted the staff of the embassy and presented gifts to them.

NCC Management Committee holds coord meeting

YANGON, 4 Nov — The work coordination meeting of the National Convention Convening Management Committee was held at the meeting hall of the committee at Nyaunghnapin Camp, Hmawby Township, Yangon Division, this afternoon.

Chairman of the Management Committee Auditor-General Maj-Gen Lun Maung in his address said that the NC is going to resume on 5 December 2005. He called on members of respective subcommittees to make necessary preparations as from now. Chairmen of subcommittees and secretaries, and officials reported on their respective sectors. In their response, Vice-Chairmen of the Management Committee Maj-Gen Than Htay and Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu reviewed the reports, and the meeting came to an end with the concluding remarks by Chairman Maj-Gen Lun Maung. The NCC Management Committee Chairman together with the Vice-Chairmen, chairmen of subcommittees and officials viewed around the preparatory tasks at the buildings, hostels and meeting halls, and beautifying tasks at environs of the camp.