Overview
September marked the turning point in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing test positivity rates, and achieving planned goals in the vaccination programmes against the disease. The month was also notable for increased cooperation and collaboration with neighbouring and other friendly countries.
September also saw intensified efforts of terrorist organizations dedicated to destroying the state and creating anarchy out of desperation. These efforts were thwarted by the vigilance of the security forces and the cooperation of the Myanmar people in bringing some of these terrorists to justice.
Diary of the State Leader
On 6 September, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presided over the 11th COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Coordination meeting. During the meeting, he highlighted the decline of the test positivity rate from 40 per cent in mid-July to 10.37 per cent in early September and emphasized the need to remain vigilant, observe health rules, and continue with the vaccination programme, especially since the infection rate remains high in some regions and states. He also mentioned the efforts for local production of vaccines, the research in traditional medicines, and the need to advance universal healthcare coverage.
On 7 September, at the second meeting of the Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Prime Minister emphasized that a country’s main strengths lay in building up its political, economic and defence might, and the health and continuous learning of its people. He discussed the improvement of agriculture and livestock sectors, especially intending to increase exports, enhance local food security, and heighten the production of oilseed crops, cotton and other crops. The meeting also discussed plans for the hotels and tourism sector, housing construction, transportation, greening the country, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines and the progress of vaccination programmes, with the aim being to leave no one behind.
On 9 September, the 7th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit was convened and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing welcomed the GMS Economic Cooperation Programme Strategic Framework 2030, which was approved at the summit, which would guide GMS cooperation in the future. He also highlighted the efforts of Myanmar to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, and for 50 per cent coverage of vaccination across the nation by the end of this year.
On 10 September, the Prime Minister inspected the New Locomotive Assembling Factory (Nay Pyi Taw) of the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Branch under Myanma Railways and railway station and guided the discussion on how rail transport could improve the country’s transport networks.
On 13 and 14 September, SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Choice of Arms ceremony for the 64th Intake of the Defence Services Academy at PyinOoLwin, and on 14 September, met with senior officer instructors, senior officer lecturers, medical specialists, faculty members, officers, other ranks and families from PyinOoLwin military station. He highlighted the important role of the Myanmar Defence Services (Tatmadaw) in political changes for the country and emphasized discipline, health, fitness and skills of service members.
On 16 September, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspected the Sin Min Dam, its storage and other facilities, the National Kandawgyi Garden, natural spring and water inlet channels along the circular road of the garden. The Prime Minister next met with the members of the Administration Councils of Mandalay Region and PyinOoLwin Township, departmental personnel and town elders at PyinOoLwin Township Hall. Discussions focused on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in PyinOoLwin, which was variously known as Flower City, a centre for tourism and education institutions. All would need to work together to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate and to accelerate the recovery process in PyinOoLwin with various local development projects in the agriculture, livestock, health and services sectors. On 17 September, the Prime Minister inspected projects related to the sports, local economy and tourism of PyinOoLwin.
On 18 September, the Prime Minister met with the members of the Kachin State authorities, departmental officials, district/ township administrators and town elders at Myitkyina Township for the first time. The Prime Minister discussed the current plans for socio-economic development and peace processes in the country, the building of a firm multiparty democratic system, and the priority given to building up prosperity and food security in the country. To wean the country away from over-dependence on natural resources, diversification would be needed, especially towards the cultivation of oilseed crops, the production of quality farming products, renewable energy, city development projects, tourism and sports. All these require human resources development built on a foundation of education, knowledge about the economy and law, and a healthy population.
The Prime Minister visited the military station in Myitkyina and explained the progress being made in the sector-wise development of the country with the FivePoint Roadmap and the Nine Objectives. He mentioned the efforts being made for the emergence of a genuine disciplined multiparty democratic system, for prosperity and food security. He urged Tatmadaw members to work hard to contribute to the development of the country while serving the military duties and providing the military families with gifts of food. The Prime Minister then met with Tatmadaw personnel who were under medical treatment at Myitkyina military hospital to personally encourage them.
On 19 September, the Prime Minister met with Tatmadaw officials and families at the Lashio military station. He updated them on the political situation, provided them with gifts of food, and encouraged the soldiers to be treated at the military hospital with words of comfort. Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with Shan State government authorities, officials of Self-Administered Zones, departmental personnel, other local authorities and town elders at the office of Shan State government. During the visit, he underscored the need to boost local production, industry development, electricity, agriculture and livestock sectors.
On 23 September, the meeting (1/2021) of the Financial Commission was organized. In his address, the Prime Minister, also the Chairman of the Financial Commission, explained the budget for COVID-19-related expenses during the six-month budget term, including K100 billion special funds in addition to an emergency fund of K56 billion. He urged officials to use the allocated budget effectively in implementing the future work plans and objectives of SAC. The 1/2021 meeting of the National Planning Commission was held on the same day. During the meeting, the Chairman of the Commission, the Prime Minister emphasized the utilization of project budgets in line with the financial regulations of the country, strict supervision and the need to avoid wastage.
On 24 September, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister addressed the 15/2021 meeting of the State Administration Council. The meeting discussed the reopening of schools as soon as feasible, vaccination programmes for students aged over 12, the decline in test positivity rates for COVID 19, local food security, agriculture and livestock sectors, measures to economize on fuel and increase the revenue of the country.
On 27 September, the Prime Minister attended meeting 1/2021 of the Union Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. During the meeting, he noted that over the past eight months’ period, since the current government had taken over state duties, the changes and challenges confronting the country were rooted in the fraudulence of the 2020 general elections. He emphasized that the government was prioritizing COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment measures and the reduction of the country’s trade deficits.
On 28 September, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a video message to the ceremony marking World Tourism Day 2021, with suggestions for developing the Myanmar tourism industry. The online event was held at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win (Chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of National Tourism Industry). The meeting focused on plans to revive the industry as soon as the COVID-19 improved.
The meeting 5/2021 of the Committee for Security, Stability and Rule of Law of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was also held on the same day. Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addressed the meeting on Myanmar’s path of democracy, the adherence to the 2008 Constitution, and the need for international relations to conform to the actual situation of the country as well as the Constitution and existing laws. He mentioned the need for simplifying the country’s planning, management and administrative systems. He noted that while some of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) were involved in terrorist acts, most EAOs do not accept such acts against the civilian population. He discussed measures to ensure the rule of law and community peace.
From 1 to 7 September, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win visited the Russian Federation. During the visit, he attended the closing ceremony of the International Army Games 2021 and met senior Russian military and civilian officials. The visit focused on improving the bilateral relations between the two countries’ governments and military, and the enhancement of cooperation in the areas of defence, science, technology, research, human resources and culture.
On 13 September, the Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win presided over the 12th meeting of COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment. The meeting focused on measures in response to disease infection patterns, the availability of medical services, the transportation of vaccines, the procurement of vaccines and donations received, the issue of repatriation of Myanmar workers from foreign countries and health services for these returnees, and the prioritization system by the township for the vaccination campaign, and the use of QR Codes for health system records in the fight against COVID-19.
On 30 September, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win attended the coordination meeting on vaccination programmes for middle and high school students aged over 12. The government has planned to fully vaccinate middle and high school students against COVID-19 to enable students, teachers and parents to have the confidence that schools will be healthy.
International Cooperation
On 29 and 30 September, the virtual 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and related virtual meetings took place. The Myanmar delegation led by Union Minister for Home Affairs Lieutenant-General Soe Htut participated actively in the event.
On 8 September, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin attended the 11th Mekong-Korea Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting via videoconferencing. The Union Minister also joined the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 23 September, where he urged the U.S and ASEAN member countries to condemn the terrorist acts of the Committee Representing Pyithu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the so-called National Unity Government (NUG) and added that their representation at the UN and other international forums was neither legitimate nor unacceptable.
On 8 September, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Aung Naing Oo attended the 53rd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting, 35th ASEAN Free Trade Council Agreement Council Meeting, 24th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting and ASEAN Economic Ministers and ASEAN Business Advisory Council meetings. On 10 September, the Union Minister represented the country at the 13th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Viet Nam Economic Ministers' Meeting. From 13–15 September, the Union Minister also participated at the ASEAN Economic Ministers(AEM)—Dialogue Partners’ Consultations, which included (a) the 20th AEM-Ministry of Commerce, China Consultations on 13 September 2021; (b) the AEM Troika Open-Ended Dialogue with Switzerland’s Trade Minister on 13 September’ (c) the 24th AEM-Plus Three Consultations on 13 September; (d) the AEM-United States Trade Representative Consultations on 14 September; (e) the 5th AEM-Hong Kong, China Consultations on 14 September; (f) the 18th AEM-India Consultations on 14 September; (g) the 17th AEM-European Union (EU) Consultations on 14 September; (h) the 10th AEM-Russia Consultations, 14 September; (i) the 26th AEM-ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand Consultations on 15 September; (j) the 27th AEM-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Consultations on 15 September; (k) the First (Inaugural) AEM-United Kingdom Consultations on 15 September; and (l) the 9th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers Meeting on 15 September.
Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein represented Myanmar at the 6th Eastern Economic Forum held in the Russian Federation from 2 to 4 September and discussed the value-added production chains in the agricultural sector, infrastructure and industrial sectors. The Union Minister U Win Shein also joined the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals on 20 September and discussed the efforts of the country to achieve the SDGs, Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan and Myanmar Economic Relief Plan (MERP).
On 14 September, the World Tourism Federation organized the 54th East Asia and Pacific Commission Meeting and the 33rd Joint Meeting of the World Tourism Organization's Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and its Commission for South Asia online. The Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism joined these events. During the 48th Meeting of Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Working Group and Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Board Meeting, the Union Minister reported on the political, economic and social situation in Myanmar, the tourism industry and potential collaboration with regional countries.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar attended the Asia-Pacific Group’s Meeting on Assessing Myanmar’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism measures held on 8 September, and the 23rd ASEAN Payment System Working Committee Meeting on 16 September.
Union Chief Justice U Htun Htun Oo joined the 11th Asia-Pacific International Forum on 30 September through videoconferencing.
In September, Myanmar also participated in other international meetings, including the 39th ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings, the 18th ASEAN Air Force Chiefs Conference, the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific National Human Rights Forum, the China-ASEAN Vocational Education Fair and Forum, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council ministers.
TO BE CONTINUED
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