Myanmar, Thai associations building cultural and economic cooperation: THE Third Joint Meeting of the Myanmar-Thai Cultural and Economic Co-operation Association (MTCECA) and the Thai-Myanmar Cultural and Economic Cooperation Association (TMCECA) was held at the Hotel Nikko Royal Lake on Natmauk Road on the morning of 24 November 2003... Unprecedented Tokyo summit for leaders of ASEAN: THE leaders of Japan and ASEAN will bring the ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year to a close at a commemorative summit to be held in Tokyo next week.The summit, on December 11 and 12, marks the marks the culmination of a year of unprecedented exchanges between Japan and ASEAN... Uni to build small aircraft: STUDENTS at the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University are building a small two-seater aircraft as a training project, said Professor Daw Khin Than Yu of the Aerospace Department under the Yangon Technological University... Official from New Delhi holds talks on issues linked to Myanmar Indians: Mr Jagdish Sharma, a deputy minister at the Ministry of External Affairs, met the Foreign Minister, U Win Aung, and the Religious Affairs Minister, Brigadier-General Thura Myint Maung, on December 2, during a three day visit that began on November 30... Y First tourism diploma courses due to begin: A HOTEL and tourism management school based at Yangon?s Summit Parkview Hotel launches its first diploma level courses next month.The Summit Centre for Career Development says the diploma courses will be the first in Myanmar to be recognised internationally... City FM celebrates second anniversary: YANGON?S City FM radio station is celebrating the second anniversary of its first trial broadcast and the station boss, U Hla Myint Swe, has called for an end to the station?s monopoly... Quarantine lab for Muse: AN animal quarantine laboratory built jointly by Myanmar and China will open on December 8 in the busy border trade town of Muse, an official from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said last week... Shopping mall opens: A NEW three-storey shopping centre opened on Sule Pagoda Road in downtown Yangon on December 7.Myanmar Shopping Mall has involved an investment of about US$2 million, including building costs and stock. It is on a site formerly occupied by a duty-free shop... Gem cutting facilities lacking: MYANMAR is renowned for having some of the richest mineral deposits and for producing some of the highest quality gemstones in the world. Jadeite, rubies and pearls are just a few of the country?s precious assets that create global trade interest... Shipping markets inconsistent: SOME companies in Yangon?s shipping industry have experienced economic declines in recent months while others have been unaffected by this year?s market changes, according to industry sources... Renovation mistakes can damage historical edifaces: To preserve the original architectural workmanship and valuable antiquity, people should not renovate ancient pagodas and religious edifices until after prior consultations with responsible personnel and knowledgeable ancient architectural experts and specialists, say Myanmar?s veteran architects...Thinking Aloud talks to Dr Win Naing, the chairman of Myanmar NGO, Save the Life.