Senior General Than Shwe welcomes back Prime Minister General Soe Win who attended 2nd China-ASEAN Expo, 2nd China-ASEAN Busin

Senior General Than Shwe welcomes back Prime Minister General Soe Win who attended 2nd China-ASEAN Expo, 2nd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, PRC

YANGON, 20 Oct — Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win and the Myanmar delegation arrived back at the Yangon International Airport by air this evening after attending the 2nd China - ASEAN Expo and the 2nd China - ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the People's Republic of China.

They were welcomed back at the 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 Adjutant-General 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 the Yangon Command Commander, Ministers, se-nior military officers, Charge d’Affaires ai of the Chinese Embassy Mr Yu Boren and embassy staff, heads of department and officials.

Together with the Prime Minister, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Director-General Col Kyaw Kyaw Win of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental heads also arrived back on the same flight.

Friendship between Myanmar & PRC strengthening day after day Myanmar always supports One China Policy of PRC

Prime Minister General Soe Win

China resents interference of external countries in internal affairs of Myanmar, desires to cooperate with Myanmar in international spheres

Chinese Vice-President Mr Zeng Qinghong

YANGON, 20 Oct — Prime Minister General Soe Win of the Union of Myanmar called on Vice-President Mr Zeng Qinghong of the People’s Republic of China at the Conference Hall of Nanning International Conference Centre in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, at 3 pm on 18 October.

Also present at the call together with the Prime Minister were Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mandalay Mayor Brig-Gen Phone Zaw Han, Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin, Director-General of the State Peace and Development Council Office Col Kyaw Kyaw Win, Director-General of Government Office Col Thant Shin, Director-General of Pyithu Hluttaw Office U Myint Thein, Director-General of Protocol Department Thura U Aung Htet, Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw of the Ministry of Defence, Director-General of ASEAN Affairs Department U Aung Bwa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of Directorate of Trade U Khin Maung Lay of the Ministry of Commerce, Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations Department Daw Myo Nwe of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, Deputy Director-General of Political Department Daw Than Than Htay from Myanmar side and Minister of Commerce Mr Bo Xilai, Secretary General of Communist Party of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Cao Guo Chun, Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Lu Bin, Head of State Quality Inspection Department Mr Li Chang Jiang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Wu da Wei, Mr Guan Mu ambassador designate, and senior officials from Chinese side.

During the call, Prime Minister General Soe Win and Vice-President Mr Zeng Qinghong highlighted frank discussions on mutual interests among the two peoples.

Prime Minister General Soe Win said he was pleased to have an opportunity to hold discussions with Chinese Vice President Mr Zeng Qinghong.

He expressed his pleasure for the fact that China pays a serious attention to the China-ASEAN economic cooperation and the expo by the presence of the Chinese Vice President at the 2nd China-ASEAN Expo and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

China invited him to the expo and the summit. So, he attended the expo and summit to express Myanmar’s appreciation for the kind invitation.

He expressed his strong belief that the meeting will further enhance Paukphaw relations and mutual economic cooperation between the two nations.

He said he conveyed the warmest greetings of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe and Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Maung Aye to the Chinese Vice-President.

He said Senior General Than Shwe would like the Chinese Vice President to pass his good wishes to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Vice Senior-General Maung Aye invited the Chinese Vice President to pay a goodwill visit to Myanmar.

The two nations have placed emphasis on good neighbourly relations based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence, and it has helped strengthen bilateral friendship day after day. The onus is on the two sides to continue to further cement the Paukphaw relations successive state leaders of the two countries have maintained with farsightedness.

Myanmar always supports the One China Policy of the People’s Republic of China.

He expressed thanks to China for the fact that China firmly stands by Myanmar as a true friend whenever there takes place incidents in the international community that are directly related to the interests of Myanmar.

He said the PRC has been providing assistance constantly in political and economic sectors. Myanmar Government and the people thank the PRC leaders and the people for such assistance.

Last April Head of State Senior General Than Shwe met President Mr Hu Jintao of the PRC in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also met Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao and discussed bilateral cooperation and the tasks are being implemented.

In meeting with Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao, he discussed transformation of border trade to normal trade and promotion of relations between Myanmar and China. He said he would like to express brief words about the development in Myanmar. After regaining the independence, Myanmar faced with armed insurgency for nearly 50 years. Now the government had rebuilt national solidarity and gave priority to development of border areas and national races.

Myanmar is implementing the political, economic and social objectives and is in the process of realizing the seven-point Road Map for achieving the political goal. Representatives of all walks of life of all the nationalities have been holding discussions for emergence of a constitution the most basic foundation of the Road Map. The National Convention will resume before the end of 2005. The government has made a resolve to continue implementing the future work programmes in line with the guaidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe.

Chinese Vice-President Mr Zeng Qinghong thanked the Myanmar Prime Minister for attending the ceremony despite his enormous State duties. Mr Zeng expressed pleasure to receive the warm greetings of SPDC Chairman Senior General Than Shwe. He conveyed the cordial greetings extended to Senior General Than Shwe by PRC President Mr Hu Jintao through the Myanmar Prime Minister. Mr Zeng expressed pleasure to accept the invitation of SPDC Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Maung Aye to visit Myanmar. He would visit the country at an appropriate time.

He said that the fraternal relations between Myanmar and China always remain firm, and in addition, both countries adhere to the five principles of peaceful co-existence. Leaders of both nations extended bilateral friendly visits in the recent years, and have enhanced mutual friendship and cooperation.

The PRC will continue to give priority to Sino-Myanmar friendly relations, trade promotion and internal cooperation. There are no difficulties and obstacles between Myanmar and China that may harm their friendship and cooperation. China always wishes to cement the existing traditional friendly ties between the two nations. He thanked Myanmar for her continuous support for the One China Policy.

Myanmar and China are successfully cooperating in hydel power sector, communication sector, and mineral sector. The agreement on soft loans for the fertilizer project will be signed after the meeting.

The government of PRC appreciates the normal trade between the two countries and encourages the cooperation of the merchants of the two countries. Chinese government expects the encouragement of Myanmar government to Chinese merchants.

Efforts of the Myanmar government for stability of the State and progress of economy meet with success and Myanmar is witnessing peace and tranquillity and economic boom.

He said that Myanmar government will continue to implement the seven-point road map and will manage to sustain the economic growth. Under the leadership of Senior General Than Shwe, the government can overcome the difficulties and will bring progress to Myanmar.

We resent the interference of external countries in internal affairs of Myanmar and they should make a constructive approach to Myanmar. He also expressed a desire to see friendly cooperation of Myanmar and China.

After the meeting, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha and Minister of Commerce Mr Bo Xilai signed Framework Agreement between the Government of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Provision of Concessional Loan at Ballroom No-10 of Nanning International Conference Center Hall.

Prime Minister General Soe Win attends banquet to mark Second China-ASEAN Expo, and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

YANGON, 20 Oct — Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar General Soe Win attended a banquet jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in commemoration of the Second China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, at the Nanning International Conference Centre, Multi-functional Hall in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on 18 October evening.

Also present at the banquet were Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China Mr Zeng Qinghong, Vice-President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Mr Choummaly Saygnasone, Cambodian Prime Minister Mr Samdech Hun Sen and wife, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economics of Thailand Mr Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar U Nyan Win, Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mandalay Mayor Brig-Gen Phone Zaw Han, Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin, Director-General Col Kyaw Kyaw Win of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental heads, ministers, deputy ministers, senior officials and officials of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and China, ASEAN Secretary-General Mr Ong Keng Yong and entrepreneurs of the respective countries.

Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Lu Bin extended greetings. Next, Minister of Commerce Mr Bo Xilai of China delivered an address. Afterwards, Brunei Minister for Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Dato’ Dr Ahmed Jumat gave a speech.

The banquet was hosted to the Vice-Presidents, the Prime Ministers, the Deputy Prime Ministers, the Ministers, the Deputy Ministers, senior officials and entrepreneurs of the People’s Republic of China and ASEAN countries. After the banquet, they proceeded to Nanning International Convention & Exhibition Centre where the expo will be held, and viewed round the booths of China and ASEAN countries. Prime Minister General Soe Win visited the booths of the Union of Myanmar.

A total of 39 booths from Myanmar— 30 booths of private entrepreneurs, four of cooperative societies and five of tourism entrepreneurs — are being staged at the Second China-ASEAN Expo. Furthermore, the scale model of the wall of Mandalay Royal Palace was kept open as a Myanmar booth separately.

Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister General Soe Win arrives at Nanning, capital of Quangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

YANGON, 20 Oct — At the invitation of Government of the People’s Republic of China, Myanmar delegation led by Prime Minister General Soe Win of the Union of Myanmar left here by special flight on 17 October for Nanning, capital of Quangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the People’s Republic of China to attend 2nd China-ASEAN Expo and the 2nd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Tin Naing Thein, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Director-General of State Peace and Development Council Office Col Kyaw Kyaw Win and heads of department.

First, the Prime Minister was welcomed aboard the plane at Nanning International Airport by Myanmar Ambassador to China U Thein Lwin and Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr He Meng.

After descending from the plane, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Vice-Chairman of People’s Congress of Quangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Pan Qi, Vice-Chairmen of Quangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Mr Wu Heng and Mrs Liu Xin Wen, Mr Guan Mu ambassador-designate to Myanmar and embassy staff.

Next, a member of traditional cultural dance troupe presented a bouquet to the Prime Minister General Soe Win. The Prime Minister and party was entertained with traditional cultural dances.

Afterwards, Myanmar delegation led by the Prime Minister went to Li Yuan Resort where they would put up in a motorcade.