6 The Japan Times Wednesday,January4,2012

Myanmar independence day

Khin Maung TinAMbAssAdor of MyAnMAr

On Jan. 4, on this auspiciousoccasion of the 64th anniver-sary of the Independence dayof the republicof the unionof Myanmar, Ihave the greathonor to con-vey the warm-est greetings ofH.e.PresidentuThein sein andthepeopleofMyanmartoTheirImperialMajestiesemperoraki-hitoandempressMichiko,H.e.Prime Minister yoshihiko nodaand the government and thegreatpeopleofJapan.

I would also like to take thisopportunity, on behalf of thegovernment and people ofMyanmar,toonceagainexpressourdeepestsympathyandcon-dolences to the governmentand people of Japan, especiallyto the victims and members ofthe bereaved families on thetragic losses and great sufferingbroughtaboutbythecatastroph-ic earthquake and tsunami thatseverelyaffectedtheTohokuareaonMarch11.Ifirmlybelievethatthe hard work and determina-tionofthegreatpeopleofJapanwill be able to overcome thechallengesJapanisfacingnow.

Therepublicof theunionofMyanmarismadeupof135eth-nic groups in the official count.

The main national groups aretheKachin,Kayah,Kayin,Chin,Bamar,Mon,rakhineandshan.about 85 percent of the peopleof Myanmar are Buddhist andreligion plays a significant roleinthedailylivesoftheMyanmarpeople. The total populationis estimated at 58 million witha growth rate of 1.75 percent.Myanmarcover676,577sq.km,and has a coastline measuring2,051 km. The terrain rangesfromaridplainstocool,sprawl-inghills,ice-cappedmountains,white-sand beaches, lush farm-land, hidden valleys and thickvirginforests.ThroughBuddhistconcepts thepeople learntobegentle but proud, dignified yetfriendly, reverent of elders, andtoenjoylife fullywithasponta-neoussenseofhumor.

nay Pyi Taw, literally mean-ingroyalCapital,wasdeclaredMyanmarsnewcapitalonJan.1,2006. It is situated 391 km fromyangonandenjoysacoolclimate.

Having a glorious history,Myanmarstoodtallwithitsownmonarchs and enjoyed the sov-ereignty for thousands of years.ButinthelateKonbaungPeriod,ourcountryfellunderthesubju-gation of colonialists. However,our national brethren remainedunited in their struggles to lib-erate the nation from the colo-nial rule; as a result, Myanmarregained independence and itssovereignty on Jan. 4, 1948. Ja-pan played a significant role in

our struggle for independencefrom British colonial rule andthe Myanmar armed Forceswas born out of military train-ing provided by Japan. In thepost-independence era, Japanextended remarkable economicassistance to Myanmar in itsnation-buildingefforts.

In november 2010, multipar-ty democracy general electionswere held in Myanmar. Thirty-seven political parties including19partiesfromdifferentnation-al ethnic groups contested thegeneralelections.Today,electedrepresentatives are exercisingtheir democratic rights in Hlut-taw, the legislative body, to dis-cussissuesoftheirstateaffairs.

The president, in his inau-gural speech to the first regularsessionof thePyidaungsuHlut-taw (the union Parliament) onMarch 30, 2011, pledged to im-prove and promote the socio-economic life and fundamentalrights of the citizens. He alsooutlinedthepoliciesandobjec-tivesofthenewgovernmentwithaviewtobuildingamodernanddemocraticnation.Theprioritiesof the new government are toachievegoodgovernance,cleangovernment,fundamentalrightsofthecitizens,economicreformandconservationoftheenviron-ment. Myanmar is determinedto promote better standardsand equitable development ofitspeople.Webelievethateverychangemustbebasedonreality,

stabilityandsystematicprocess.Thestepstakenbythegovern-

ment of Myanmar are concreteand visible, ensuring that thereformprocessissystematicanddynamic. Myanmar has strongdetermination to continue im-plementingthedemocratizationprocessamidall thechallenges.Theworkprogramswillbetrans-parent, accountable and con-sistent with the provisions pre-scribed in the constitution andtheexistinglaws.Withaviewtopromotingandsafeguardingthefundamental rights of the citi-zensasprescribedintheconsti-tution, the Myanmar nationalHumanrightsCommissionwasformedonsept.5,2011.

Myanmarhadadoptedafive-pointruraldevelopmentschemealongwithtworelatedprogramsfrom 2001 to 2010 to be able toattain the u.n. Millennium de-velopment Goals (MdGs). Inaddition, a 24-region develop-ment project and border regiondevelopmentworkswereimple-mentedwithaviewtonarrowingthedevelopmentgapsamongre-gionsandstates.Thankstosuchworks,thepovertyrateofMyan-mardroppedfrom32percentin2005 to 26 percent in 2010 ac-cordingtotheintegratedhouse-holdlivingconditionassessment(IHLCa) jointly conducted bytheunitednationsdevelopmentProgram(undP)andMyanmar.

With a view to improve thelivelihoodofthepeople,thena-

tional rural development andPovertyreductionPlanhasbeenadoptedandthecentralcommit-tee and work committees wereformedtosupplementtheeighttasks laid down in accordancewiththenationalPlan.

Theuniongovernmentofferedanolivebranchtoallthearmedethnic groups by decreeing anannouncement on aug. 18 andsome of those groups have ac-cepted the governments offer.The president also granted am-nestyontwodifferentoccasionsand more than 20,000 inmateswerereleasedthroughtheendofJuly.Thepresidentinvitedpeopletoworktogetherfortheinterestsofthenationdespitedifferences.accordingly, he received dawaungsansuuKyionaug.19andhad cordial and candid discus-sions to find out potential com-mongroundtoworktogetherfortheinterestsofthenationandthepeople,whileputtingasidediffer-entviews.

In regard to foreign relations,Myanmar continues to pursueanindependent,activeandnon-alignedforeignpolicy.Basedonthe five principles of peacefulcoexistence, Myanmar alwaysmaintainsfriendlyrelationswithallmembersoftheworld,espe-ciallywithitsneighboringcoun-tries and those in the region.Myanmar has taken an activepartintheregionalorganizationssuch as asean (association ofsoutheast asian nations), aC-MeCs (ayeyawady- Chao Phra-ya-MekongeconomicCoopera-tionstrategy)andBIMsTeC(BayofBengalInitiativeforMulti-sec-toral Technical and economicCooperation) for the all-arounddevelopment of the region. atthe same time, Myanmar hasbeenparticipatingintheu.n.aswellasintheinternationalcom-munityactivelytoovercomethemenace of terrorism, narcoticdrugs, human trafficking andothertransnationalcrimes.asanagro-basedcountry,Myanmarisfollowing with keen interest theissuessurroundingtheeffectsofclimatechange.

recently, the fourth GMs(Greater Mekong subregion)summit was successfully com-pleted in nay Pyi Taw on dec.20, 2011, and attended by theheadsofthegovernmentsofthesix Mekong countries: Cambo-dia,China,Laos,Myanmar,Thai-land and Vietnam. We are also

preparingtohostthe27thsouth-eastasian(sea)Gamesin2013at nay Pyi Taw, the first time in44 years. Moreover, Myanmarwas accorded the chairman-ship of asean in 2014, whichweassumeasourrightfulplacetoworktogether in theregionalcommunity.

sincelate1988,theeconomicsystemofMyanmarhaschangedfrom a socialist economic sys-tem to a market-oriented one.Myanmar has vast amounts ofresources,includingarableland,natural gas, mineral deposits,fisheries, forestry and man-power. Wood products such as

Myanmar teak and hardwoodare famous in the world timbermarket. Well-known premiumquality jade and rubies are alsoin Myanmar. The Foreign In-vestment Law was enacted innovember 1988 and foreign in-vestments are permitted since1989/90.asofMay31,2011,454enterprises from 31 countrieshave already been permitted toinvest in Myanmar with a to-tal amount of $36 billion. Thepromising sectors for foreigninvestments are power, oil andgas,mining,manufacturing,ho-telsandtourism,realestate,live-stockandfisheries,transportandtelecommunications, industrialestate, agriculture, constructionand other services. The Myan-marspecialeconomicZoneLawwas enacted in January 2011.With the emergence of the seZlaw,thegovernmentdesignateddawei, Thilawa and KyaukphyuasspecialeconomicZones.

Therearetremendousinvest-mentopportunitiesinMyanmar.The asean-Japan Centre (aJC)and Japan Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (JCCI) arealsopromotingtrade,investmentandtourisminMyanmar.Inthe

Entering a new era, to a modern democratic nation

Continuedonpage7

Makoto KogaMEMbEr of ThE housE of rEprEsEnTATivEs; prEsidEnT, JApAn-MyAnMAr pArliAMEnTAry lEAguE of ThE libErAl dEMocrATic pArTy

i would like to express my congratulations on the 64th independence day of the republic of the union of Myanmar.

i am anticipating from my heart that the new establishment of your beautiful country will progress more than ever.

i will do my best for the advance of cultural and economic communications between Japan and the republic of the union of Myanmar as before.

i hope for the further development of Myanmar in the future.

Cultural, economic advances help Japan develop ties with Myanmar

Friendlyties:MyanmarpresidenttheinSeinandprimeMinisterYoshihikonodameetonthesidelinesoftheaSeanSummitinBali,indonesia,onnov.18. cAbinET public rElATions officE

union:thepyidaungsuHluttawcomplexinMyanmarsnewcapitalhasemergedastheseatofthelegislativebodyestablishedbythe2008constitution. MyAnMAr EMbAssy

Bilateralrelations:MyanmarForeignMinisterWunnaMaungLwin(secondfromleft)holdstalkswithhisJapanesecounterpart,Koichirogenba(secondfromright),intokyoonoct.21duringhisvisittoJapan. MinisTry of forEign AffAirs of JApAn

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The Japan Times Wednesday,January4,2012 7

Myanmar independence day

offshore area, six shallow waterblocks are available for explo-ration and development and11 new deep water blocks areopened for new investors. Wehave 11.379 million hectares ofnet area sown, production po-tential of 1.05 million tons perannum from marine resourcesalone.Inlandwaterbodiescoveran area of 8.2 million hectares.50 percent of Myanmars landarea is covered with forests. Todate,Myanmarpossessesabun-dant hydropower potential upto about 43,650 megawatts. Theestimated active labor force isabout30million.Labor-intensiveindustriesarebeingencouragedunder the Foreign InvestmentLaw.

among the many amazingsites to visit are the spectacular,shimmeringspireoftheshwed-agon Pagoda towering over theskyline of yangon; the magnifi-cent ancient temples of Bagan;the many teak monasteries inandaroundMandalay featuringintricate carvings; old pagodacomplexeshiddeninthebeauti-

fulhillsoftheshanPlateau;pris-tine white-sand beaches; KyaikHtiyo, themagicalGoldenrockPagoda perched on the edge ofa cliff; immense stone templesof 18th century at Marauk Oo;snowcapped Mount Hkakab-orazi, southeast asias highestat5,881metersandwhite-waterriversforprofessionalandama-teurrafters.InlayLakesituatedatan altitude of 889 meters abovesealevelinsouthernshanstate,ringed with mountain rangesthatdisappearintothefarmistsin hues of purple and blue, is ahaven for waterfowl and otherbirds. It is also the home to theIntha national race where theIntha peoples skills of rowingboatswiththeirlegsaroundthevegetation floating in the lakeis unique and famous. The My-eik archipelago, located in theTaninthayidivisioninthesouth-ernpartofMyanmarcomprisesofover800gorgeousislands.

although Japan and Myan-mar established diplomaticrelations on dec. 1, 1954, therelationsbetweenourtwocoun-triesstartedfromhistorictimes,

havingstrongrelationshipsalsoin cultural and religious ties.Japanesewarveterans,whohadbeentoMyanmarduringWorldWarII,enhancedthefriendshipbetween our countries. Japanhasextendedhumanitarianas-sistancetoMyanmarespeciallyin thesectors of health,educa-tionandhumanresourcedevel-opment.

The visit of ParliamentaryViceMinister forForeignaffairsMakikoKikuta in June2011hasturnedanewpageoffurtherde-velopment in bilateral relationsbetweenMyanmarandJapan.InOctober, at the invitation of theJapanesegovernment,MyanmarMinister forForeignaffairsH.e.u Wunna Maung Lwin paid atwo-day visit to Tokyo and theofficial meeting with ForeignMinister H.e. Koichiro Genbahascontributedtobetterunder-standing,mutualtrustandgoodwill between our two countriesand people. The two foreignministershavesuccessfullywrit-tenanewchapterofbilateralre-lations and further cooperationbetweenourtwocountries.

areciprocalvisittoMyanmarwas paid by Foreign MinisterGenba at the end of december.I am optimistic that the mutualvisitsbetweenthetwocountrieswillcertainlydeepenthemutualfriendship and strengthen bilat-eralcooperation.

Furthermore, the presidentofMyanmarhadameetingwiththe Prime Minister yoshihikonoda on the sidelines of theasean-related meetings lastnovember. at the meeting, Ja-pan commended Myanmar forthe positive steps it has takentowarddemocratizationandna-tionalreconciliation.

I would like to take this op-portunity to express my appre-ciation to the government andthepeopleofJapanforthegoodwillthatJapanhasshowntowardMyanmar. We hope Japan willalsocontinuetohelpMyanmar,aseanandtheMekongregion.

In closing, I would like toextend my sincere thanks onceagain to The Japan Times forgiving me this excellent oppor-tunity to address its esteemedreaders.

Mutual visits strengthen bilateral cooperationContinued from page 6

City of kings: Bagan, once the capital of several ancient kingdoms, has some 2,000 pagodas and temples. MyanMar eMbassy

Keishu TanakaMeMber of The house of represenTaTives; ChairMan, Japan-MyanMar parliaMenTarian friendship league of The deMoCraTiC parTy of Japan

i would like to offer my congratulations on the 64th independence day of the republic of the union of Myanmar, which has been fostering a good fellowship with Japan for more than half a century, gathering speed in

democratization and its role expected for its future development.

in addition, i expand my congratulations to the fact that the republic of the union of Myanmar has been accepted to accede to the post of the presidency of the association of southeast asian nations in 2014.

i preside as chairman of the democratic party of Japans Japan-Myanmar parliamentarians friendship league.

by uniting the party and the government of Japan, and backing up the democratization and the national reconciliation progress in the republic of the union of Myanmar, i would like to

encourage the furtherance of the fellowship between the republic of the union of Myanmar and Japan, including the technical assistance for the amplifications of grant assistance, improvements of infrastructures and communication linkages, and the maintenance of water and sewer systems in the republic of the union of Myanmar.

lastly, i hope the republic of the union of Myanmar will develop more and more in the future. at the same time, i promise that we will make progress in our continuous assistance to make it come true.

Making further progress in assistance to help Myanmar attain many goals

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