Information Sheet No. A. 0848

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                                   MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
                                                        YANGON

                                                   Information Sheet
                                   No. A. 0848                 25th March 1999

(1)		Secretary-1 Returns from Lao PDR

		Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt
arrived back Yangon by special flight on 24 March from goodwill visit to
Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic, at the invitation of Vice-Prime
minister Mr. Boun-Nhang Vorachit of LPDR.

(2)		Gyaing River Bridge (Zathabyin) Linking Mon State and Kayin State
Commissioned into Service

		Gyaing River Bridge (Zathabyin) linking Mon State and Kayin State was
commissioned into service on 24 March. Construction of the bridge started on
28 June 1996 and completed on 28 February 1999. The longest suspension bridge
in the nation which is 1,900 feet long and 24 feet wide was built at a cost of
K 1.2 billion and US $ 4..96 million. It can withstand up to 45 tons. Its
clearance is 750 feet wide and 40 feet high. As Kayin and Mon states were
separated by rivers and creeks, nationalities had to use Hpa-an Mawlamyine
waterway to travel by boat between the two states which was a four-hour
journey by boat in the past or had to take the 60-mile Mawlamyine-Thaton-Hpa-
an Road.

		National races of Hpa-an and Mawlamyine can now easily travel back and forth
between the two towns through Hpa-an-Zathabyin-Mawlamyine Road within over an
hour using the Gyaing (Zathabyin) Bridge and Attran River Bridge, which was
opened on 26 March 1998 to overcome the first barrier in connecting the two
destinations. In addition to these bridges, other bridges such as Gyaing River
Bridge (Kawkareik) will be opened soon for progress of Kayin and Mon states.
Cross border trade will prosper after completion of Gyaing River Bridge
(Kwakareik).

(3)		World Tuberculosis Day Observed 

		The World Tuberculosis Day was observed at International Business Centre on
24 March. Deputy Minister for Health said TB was discovered by German
Physician Dr. Robert Koch in Berlin on 24 March 1882. At that time, TB spread
dreadfully in Europe and America and one out of seven people died of TB. He
spoke on efforts to eradicate the disease by medical circles and death of 200
million people since 1882. The deputy minister called for cooperation in
eradication of TB in accord with the slogan-- Stop TB, Use DOTS. Next, WHO

Resident Representative made a speech. Guests observed documentary photos and
publications in commemoration of World TB Day. 

(4)		Minister Back from Tour of Three ASEAN Nations 

		Minister for Foreign Affairs arrived back Yangon by air on 24 March after
paying goodwill visits to the Republic of the Philippines, the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic at the invitation
of the respective Foreign Ministers and after accompanying the goodwill
delegation to lao headed by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. 

(5)		Co-operatives Trade Fair (Mandalay) 1999 Opened

		The opening ceremony of Co-operatives Trade Fair (Mandalay) 1999 was held in
Aungmyaythazan Township in Mandalay on 24 March. The Co-operatives Trade Fair
(Mandalay) continues up to 27 March for the public from 8 am to 9 pm daily.

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