Chairman of the State Adminis­tration Council Prime Minis­ter Senior General Min Aung Hlaing talked about regional devel­opment with townselders from Bagan ancient cultural region and departmen­tal officials from NyaungU, Pakokku, Myingyan, Minbu and Magway districts at Bagan Cultural Museum in Bagan yesterday morning.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sen­ior General unveiled the government reviews that limited number of pilgrims and visitors arriving at Bagan ancient cultural region will be allowed to climb the upper terrace of Htilo Minlo Pagoda to pay homage to stupas and temples in the region and enjoy scenic beauties of Bagan region in limited time.

He noted that agriculture, livestock and technical high schools have been opened in districts to turn out neces­sary human resources. Moreover, he disclosed that preparations are being made to establish more agriculture, livestock and technical institutes as well as universities for learning ad­vanced subjects. He urged officials to strive for boosting agriculture and livestock farms and raising number of educated persons in Bagan region.

He pointed out that everybody needs to be friendly with legal affairs and so, universities teach law and economic subjects to the students for having economic outlooks.

Residents reported on develop­ment of Bagan ancient cultural region, betterment of transport and commu­nications, electrification, and landing of international flights at NyaungU airport.

In his response, the Senior General explained that number of tourist arriv­als is still lesser due to some sanctions politically imposed with various rea­sons. Electricity should be generated from solar energy as much as possible for electrifying Bagan region. As aer­oplanes from international flights are difficult to land in Bagan-NyaungU airport due to its location in ancient cultural region, a plan is underway to upgrade Pakokku Airport as the inter­national airport for long term conven­ience. Water from Ayeyawady River can be treated to sufficiently supply it to the people from Bagan through the solar-powered river water pumping station. The Senior General urged all to increase yield of agriculture and livestock products in order to reduce commodity prices.

Officials need to encourage local growers to cultivate long staple cotton to produce threads. The Senior General stressed that Mandalay and Magway regions have to meet the cotton de­mand of the country.

The Senior General highlighted that the government is serving the national cause but politics, urging all people to join the development of the nation for the cause of the country. He underscored that peaceful and stable regions will have development whereas armed insurgency causing instabili­ty of the region will hamper regional development measures. — MNA/TTA