UNION Minister for Ministry I of the President’s Office U Tin Aung San visited Myitkyina yesterday morning and paid homage to the presiding Sayadaw of Sasana Wunsaung MyoU Monastery.
He met reverends from various denominations in Myitkyina at the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). During the meeting, the Union Minister urged religious leaders to uphold peace founded on faith and moral values and to contribute, within their respective capacities, to build a stable, peaceful, modern and developed Union. He also called for collective efforts to advance peacefully along the path of multiparty democracy desired by all ethnic nationalities. Gifts and cash donations were presented to the reverends.
Afterwards, the Union Minister met members of the Kachin State government, officials, peace-talk creation group members, religious organizations, ethnic literature and traditional cultural troupes, business owners, social organizations and residents at the Maykha Hall of the state government office.
In his address, the Union Minister said the meeting aimed to coordinate efforts for regional development, socio-economic progress and other essential needs of the state. He explained that, in accordance with the four-point objectives of the National Defence and Security Council, the phase I of the election was successfully held on 28 December, the phase II was being conducted that day, and the phase III would take place on 25 January.
He added that only through elections could a government elected by representatives chosen by the people continue to carry out state responsibilities. He noted that Myanmar had adopted policies centred on agriculture and livestock breeding to improve the national economy and was prioritizing increased productivity in these sectors.
To ensure the success of agricultural development, he stressed the need for awareness-raising activities by relevant officials. He also highlighted the importance of promoting One Region-One Product initiatives by utilizing locally produced raw materials and developing MSMEs. Relevant departments, he said, needed to provide capital and technical support to advance these efforts.
The Union Minister emphasized that electricity was essential for agricultural and livestock production, as well as for processing goods from raw materials to finished products.
He stated that, in Kachin State, it was necessary to review, discuss and implement the Ayeyawady River confluence hydropower project at the junction of the Maykha and Malikha rivers. If successfully implemented, the project would generate electricity benefiting Kachin State and the nation, enhance productivity, and provide long-term benefits for future generations.
Subsequently, Dr Aye Lwin, an earthquake and engineering geology expert from the Ministry of Electric Power, presented a detailed briefing on seismic resistance considerations in dam construction. Union Minister for Electric Power U Nyan Tun then explained the technical aspects of the Myitsone hydropower project, including flood control measures, maintenance of normal river flow along the Ayeyawady, navigability for vessels, sufficient electricity generation and distribution for the state and the country, and systematic technical safeguards to address public concerns.
Residents attending the meeting presented their views and discussed regional development issues and the Myitsone project.
The Union Minister later presented financial assistance to religious organizations and ethnic literature and traditional cultural troupes and delivered closing remarks.
On the same day, the Union Minister and party inspected the construction site of the State High Court building and instructed officials to ensure that quality standards were met. They also inspected the construction of seven RC valves at Yekyi Creek sluice gate implemented by the Department of Irrigation and Water Utilization Management, and urged that the project be completed within the designated timeframe.
MNA/KZL
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