Myanmar and the United States have jointly conducted the first Myanmar -U.S. 1.5 Track exchange of views in Nay Pyi Taw over the current two days, official sources from the new capital said Tuesday. Opened by Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Myo Myint, the view exchange was carried out by Myanmar Foreign Ministry's Institute of Strategic and International Studies and the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University of the United States on Monday and Tuesday. Senior representatives from the Myanmar government, the academia and business circles from Myanmar and the U.S. participated in the dialogue and exchanged views on political, economic and legislative matters, environmental conservation, financial sector development, agriculture, investment, and non- governmental organizations in Myanmar. Relations between Myanmar and the U.S. have improved following the visit to Myanmar of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in November-December last year. More visits were successively made by Derek Mitchell, who is U.S. special representative and policy coordinator for Myanmar, Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator John MaCain in January this year, meeting with Myanmar's new government leadership and seeking grounds for normalization of the two countries' diplomatic relations which were stranded for over two decades.
S. Korea's opposition parties to field joint candidates
The leaders of two South Korean opposition parties agreed Tuesday to soon wrap up negotiations over fielding joint candidates for the parliamentary polls next month, a move that would strengthen an opposition alliance against the conservative ruling party. The agreement came at a meeting earlier in the day between leader of the main opposition Democratic United Party Han Myeong- sook and chairwoman of the left-leaning Unified Progressive Party Lee Jung-hee. "An opposition alliance is a task we cannot give up on," Han said during the meeting, according to the party. "It will mark the beginning of the process of laying the groundwork for the victory in the parliamentary elections and the shift of power that will follow." The two parties said they will hold meetings to coordinate their election pledges and release a final statement on selecting joint candidates by Thursday. Both agree on a number of policy agendas, including expanding universal welfare programs, reining in family-owned conglomerates and putting a brake on ruling Saenuri Party-initiated projects. The parties are also strongly opposed to business-friendly policies espoused by the country's conservative leader Lee Myung- bak and his signature policy initiatives, including a river restoration project and trade accords with other countries. The general elections are scheduled for April 11.
Philippine gov't shrugs off coup plot rumors
The Philippine government shrugged off rumors of an alleged coup plot being brewed by retired military officers identified with the previous administration. Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday the current administration remains "101 percent" confident in the loyalty of the chain of command to their Commander-in-Chief -- President Benigno Aquino III. "We are not bothered by any rumors of a coup. Our belief is that it's all noise," Lacierda said in a briefing. Lacierda was reacting to the claim made earlier by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes said retired military officers allied with the previous administration have been attempting, though in vain so far, to recruit soldiers to overthrow Aquino's government. Lacierda said the government is confident that a coup plot won' t succeed as the president has launched several programs for the benefit of the soldiers and the policemen. Lacierda noted that upon his assumption, Aquino "issued an order that mission-essential equipment be given to the ground forces." "We have increased the combat pay of the soldiers and we are providing housing benefits not only to the soldiers, but also to the police and firemen," he said. Lacierda said that Trillanes' revelation has had no impact on the economy, a proof that the people and the business community " are aware of what the government is doing, what the president is doing for the soldiers as well as the economy." "We don't believe that this reported recruitment will have any effect (on the economy)," he said. The Armed Forces, for its part, said it is coordinating with Senator Trillanes to validate his information and to get the names of the people supposedly involved in the plot. Armed Forces Spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said they have not monitored any efforts by soldiers to oust President Aquino, adding no one would join such moves if the recruitment is indeed true. "We will closely coordinate with him on this matter so that we would be able to ensure that any actions or activities that are meant to disrupt the peace and stability of this country will not succeed," Burgos said. Trillanes, a former Navy officer, was among the six core leaders of the Magdalo Group that mounted the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in 2003 to protest the alleged rampant corruption in the Philippine military. He was detained after the mutiny was quelled. Trillanes was elected senator in 2007, making him the first Philippine senator to be elected while in jail.
Maldives' opposition demand int'l involvement to probe into power transfer
The Maldives' opposition led by former president Mohamed Nasheed has called for international involvement to the locally made inquiry into contentious power transfer on February 7 and subsequent violence, an opposition spokesman said on Tuesday. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson for international affairs, Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said in a statement that the party has expressed its continued concern at the lack of clarity, on the part of the newly-established Commission of National Inquiry (CNI). "The MDP has consistently said that, in order to be impartial and independent, any investigation would need to have a strong international element. This should include legal experts, constitutional experts, forensic experts, investigators and human rights experts," Ghafoor stated. "The government is clearly dragging its feet on the issue of international involvement - in direct violation of the clear calls from the EU, the Commonwealth and others." "The MDP hopes that the international community will immediately call on the government and the CNI to commit to significant international involvement in the investigation, and ask the CNI to include witness protection within its methods of work," he said. The Maldives has been politically unstable since former president Nasheed resigned on February 7 and later he claimed he was forced to do so in a military orchestrated coup.
Afghan police kill 4 militants, capture 8
Afghan police backed by national army and the NATO-led coalition forces have killed four anti-government militants and captured eight others over the past 24 hours, a statement of Interior Ministry released here said. "During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, and Coalition Forces launched 10 joint operations in Nangarhar, Kunduz, Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Logar, Herat and Farah provinces. As a result, four armed insurgents were killed, one wounded and eight others were arrested by Afghan Police," the statement added. However, it did not say if there were any casualties on security forces. Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.
Senior Chinese officials on the position of armed forces
The armed forces will unswervingly serve the overall situation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country to carry out military tasks well, senior officials said Monday. "This year is of significance in the development course of the CPC and the country, and it's a critical year for military building and the preparation of military tasks," said Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). The armed forces will push forward comprehensive modernization process in an effort to expand and deepen the preparations for military struggle and accomplish well the tasks entrusted by the Party and the people, Guo said. Guo made the remarks at a panel discussion of national legislators from the People's Liberation Army about the government work report delivered Monday by Premier Wen Jiabao at the annual session of China's top legislature. CMC Vice Chairman Xu Caihou also said during the discussion that leading military officials at various levels should have a good political awareness, pay attention to overall situation and abide by disciplines so as to carry out the tasks entrusted by the Party and the people. Premier Wen said in his report that China will enhance the armed forces' capability to accomplish a wide range of military tasks, with the Communist Party of China (CPC) having absolute leadership. "The most important thing is to win local wars under the conditions of the information age," said Wen, referring to the armed forces' capability.
China calls for real economic development
A political advisor on Tuesday called for better development of China's real economy in the wake of financial crisis in the United States and Europe. "The financial crisis is the outcome of an imbalance between the real economy and virtual economy," said Ren Hongbin, member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's political advisory body. Excessive development of the virtual economy can harm the physical economy, Ren said on the sidelines of the body's annual session, adding that the virtual economy is vital only if it serves and bases itself on the real economy. Real economy refers to the part of economy associated with the actual production of goods and services, including agriculture,manufacturing and service trades. It is regarded as the foundation of a country's comprehensive strength and the material basis of people's livelihoods. Ren, who is also chairman of the board of directors of the China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), said high-quality development should be promoted in the country's real economy, especially in the manufacturing sector. In the meantime, the government should shield listed companies from the "non-real economy" and prevent excessive speculation to avoid an economic bubble, Ren said. In a report delivered to the country's parliamentary session on Monday, Premier Wen Jiabao said the government will effectively reduce the financing costs of the real economy, which Ren referred to as "positive news for the real economy."
Hu Jintao and Vladimir Putin discuss bilateral ties
Chinese President Hu Jintao held telephone talks Tuesday with Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues. Extending his congratulations on Putin's victory in the presidential election, Hu voiced confidence that Putin's new presidential term would see faster progress in building a stronger and richer nation as well as greater achievements in promoting national rejuvenation. The Chinese government and people firmly support Russia's choice of its own development path according to its national conditions as well as the efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security and boost its economic development, Hu said. Through joint efforts, bilateral ties have developed rapidly over the past years, he said. The two sides have maintained adequate cooperation and coordination in the international arena and made positive contributions to keeping world and regional peace and security and promoting common development, Hu said. China has, as always, identified its ties with Russia as one of its diplomatic priorities, and stands ready to work with Russia to boost practical cooperation and strategic coordination in a bid to continuously lift the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to higher levels, the Chinese president said. Putin said China is a good neighbor and good friend to Russia and the bilateral ties have been built on the solid foundation of their fundamental interests. The two nations have been steadily advancing their practical cooperation in various areas and have maintained close contact and coordination on major international issues, Putin said. The Russian government and people attach great importance to the ties with China and are willing to make concerted efforts to boost practical cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the aerospace industry, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, he said. Against the backdrop of the volatile international situation, the China-Russia cooperation is playing an important role in safeguarding world peace and stability, Putin said.
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