NAY PYI TAW, 1 Dec-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein received a delegation led by US Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton at the hall of the President Office, here, at 10 am today.

Also present at the call were Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Ko Ko, Union Minister for Border Affairs and for Myanma Industrial Development Lt-Gen Thein Htay, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for Information and for Culture U Kyaw Hsan, Union Minister for Industry-1 and for Industry-2 U Soe Thein, Union Minister for Rail Transportation U Aung Min, Union Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Tin Naing Thein and departmental heads.

The US Secretary of State was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Mr. Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights & Labour Mr. Michael Posner, US Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Myanmar Mr. Derek Mitchell, Charge d' Affaires ai of the US Embassy Mr. Michael E Thurston and embassy officials.

In his speech, President U Thein Sein said that as US Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton's visit to Myanmar represented the first trip by a US Secretary of State in 50 years, it was a historic visit. He expressed his belief that engagement between the two countries would be promoted to the level of friendly relations and cooperation between them. Myanmar had been strengthening friendly ties with all countries, upholding the Independent and Active Foreign Policy in accord with five principles of peaceful co-existence, he said. China and India are maintaining good relations with Myanmar for many years and they are geopolitically important neighbours, he added. He continued to say that China encouraged Myanmar to promote relationships with western countries and even arranged dialogues with western countries.

Thus, he said that Myanmar would continuously maintain friendly ties with China and India. He added that there was government-to-government relations between Myanmar and US as well as people-to-people contact. He noted that Myanmar's experience of democracy is in its infancy. As the period of taking office of the new government was only eight months, all the steps were being taken cautiously for smooth transition to democracy, he said. As the country was on the right track of flourishing democracy and today's endeavours of the government won the internal and international supports, Myanmar had no plan to make a u-turn.

He vowed that emphasis would be placed on all-inclusiveness in the politics in accord with the law. He said that arrangement for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD enabling them to register and participate in the by-election was a significant change. With regard to media sector, freedom of media was being granted step by step in conformity with freedom and accountability, he noted.

He said that peace and stability, economic growth and human resources development were essential for democratization process. While carefully handling internal and external political issues for ensuring peace and stability of the State, Myanmar is in the process of holding peace talks with all national race armed groups.

He expressed his hope that all organizations would take part in the peace process soon. If the armed groups returned to the legal fold, the government could cooperate with them in narcotic drug elimination tasks, he said. In the past, Myanmar had been provided by the US in anti-drug drive.

Regarding the strong economy, he said that Myanmar does not need to worry about food, clothing and shelter of the people as it is an agro-based country. However, due to few job opportunities, the poverty rate in Myanmar touched 26 per cent. Therefore, he said that Myanmar is striving to reduce poverty rate from 26 % to 16 % in 2015.

The President also said that the government and the entire people were making concerted efforts for poverty alleviation, adopting eight tasks and to accomplish these tasks cooperation of UN and INGOs was needed; that industrial zones, deep-sea ports and Special Economic Zones were being developed to create job opportunities; that emergence of middle-class entrepreneurs was being encouraged; that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and assistances of IMF and World Bank were also required for technology, investment, mutual trade, capital flow; and that research of IFIS should be conducted.

Regarding Human Resources Development, Myanmar wishes to cooperate in education and health sectors; it desires to send Myanmar students to top American universities; it is hoped to develop education standard of Myanmar through bilateral cooperation.

The President said, regarding nuclear non-proliferation, Myanmar adhered to Resolution Nos (1718) and (1784) while working in cooperation with other nations; Myanmar is working closely with IAEA for peaceful use of nuclear energy and will consider signing IAEA Supplemental Protocol; he wishes American President Obama and American people health and prosperity and hopes Mrs. Clinton's trip smooth and pleasant.

Mrs. Hillary Clinton expressed her thanks for detailed explanation of the President on bilateral relations. She said that she conveyed a personal letter from President Obama expressing his thanks and recognition for the Myanmar President's endeavours for national development and arrangements for the visit; it is firmly believed that the relations between the two countries would be developed, based on mutual respect; she pledged to cooperate in Myanmar's reform process as a partner country; she acknowledged Myanmar's role in ASEAN and saidits improved relations with neighbours have US's support; and she expressed her belief that the track of the President chose for the future of Myanmar was correct for the national development.

Other countries including the US would support the steps the Myanmar government has taken to continue. She said she believed that Myanmar would overcome fairly possible challenges and achieve progress as the country has possessed precious energy resources. For further talks between the two countries, she invited a Myanmar delegation to visit the US early next year. In accord with the wish to further improve bilateral relations, the highlevel US delegations were sent to Myanmar during the past two and a half years.

The US welcomed the significant reforms the new Myanmar government has carried out and desired to respond the remarkable progress with the matched cooperation. She asked to coordinate matters on sending of World Bank Mission so as to assist and provide Myanmar Banking system. She expressed her wish to cooperate in the fight against narcotic drugs. Rural region development, clearance of landmines, improvement in microfinance and education for children programmes would be provided in cooperation with the UNDP.

Under John Hopkins scholarship programme, scholarships would be granted for Public Health and Engineering. Plan would be made for Myanmar to participate in environmental conservation programmes for countries at the lower part of Mekong river. Normal diplomatic relations would be made and reappointment of ambassadors would be considered. She showed her desire to send a group for human rights to Myanmar early next year. She spoke words of praise for making peace with national race armed groups such as holding peace talks and ceasefire and would like to help as much as she can. She welcomed formation and functions of Myanmar Human Rights Commissions.

She expected that the by-election will be held and requested the President to allow international observers to the country, that nuclear nonproliferation is high on the list of them. She expressed thanks for Myanmar adheres to the resolutions of UNSG. She called for keeping up momentum for current national reconciliation, by-election and political progress, adding that road map will be drawn to relax and lift economic sanction, restrictions on tourism sector and export and import embargo, the US wants to be a partner of Myanmar and will provide assistance showing mutual respects. These are desire of US President Barack Obama and also of country's top leaders. She said that the promising cooperation with Myanmar will be present ahead.

The President showed his appreciation for advices and encouragements on many issues. With all seriousness to advices, measures that should be taken will be taken, the President said.

At today's call, US President Barack Obama sent a personal letter to President U Thein Sein through Mrs Hillary Clinton, stating that all hope to get on a path to a new phase in bilateral relationship.

MNA