Democratic Voice of Burma

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• Li emphasises free trade at ASEAN-China summit
• New Mae Sot flight brings business to Moulmein
• Govt delegation heading to Malaysia amid migrant crackdown
• Burma counts cost of drought and flooding
• Fuji Electric opens Rangoon branch

Li emphasises free trade at ASEAN-China summit Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:42 AM PDT China’s trade with Southeast Asia could more than double to US$1 trillion by 2020, Premier Li Keqiang has told regional leaders, downplaying simmering territorial disputes and stressing their “common destiny”, state media reported Wednesday. Li called for an upgraded version of the free trade deal between the two sides and insisted that “disruptive factors” should not get in the way of regional cooperation, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Trade has grown six-fold over the past decade to $400 billion in 2012 between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), it said. But Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea—believed to sit atop vast deposits of oil and natural gas—even waters close to the coasts of its neighbours, and has been increasingly assertive over the issue in recent years. Related Stories New Mae Sot flight brings business to Moulmein Burma and the politics of ASEAN slogans Rice exports down but annual forecast positive Li downplayed the disputes while addressing the 10th China-ASEAN Expo and business and investment summit in the southern city of Nanning, reiterating Chinese calls for dialogue. "We have also noticed that there exist some disruptive factors in the region that are against stability and development, but they are not mainstream,” he said according to a transcript of his speech carried by Xinhua. “The Chinese side maintains that the South China Sea disputes are not an issue between China and the ASEAN, and they should not and will not affect the overall China-ASEAN cooperation.” “China’s new government will … more firmly and effectively build a community of common destiny to share peace and prosperity,” he said, adding that China and ASEAN ”have the power to create a ‘diamond decade’ in the future”. ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have often overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea, and Taiwan also claims it all. The dispute has rumbled on for decades, but Beijing’s actions to support its claim in recent years have raised concerns with its neighbours, particularly Hanoi and Manila. China rejects international arbitration, preferring to deal with the issue on a one-to-one basis while maintaining it has sole territorial rights. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was present at the trade fair, but Philippines President Benigno Aquino did not attend after Chinese authorities imposed conditions on the trip, Manila said, signalling they were related to the territorial row. The Philippines accused China on Tuesday of laying concrete blocks on Scarborough Shoal, a small group of reefs and rocky outcrops within its territory in the sea. Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday the accusation was “not true”. “Huangyan island is China’s inherent territory,” he told reporters at a regular briefing, using the area’s Chinese name. After years of resistance China has agreed to meet ASEAN members later this month in the eastern city of Suzhou to discuss a “code of conduct” for the waters, meant as an upgrade from a 2002 non-binding “declaration of conduct”. In Nanning, Li also briefly expressed willingness to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a way to boost trade. Beijing has not supported the US-led initiative—which is seen as a trade framework meant to exclude China—but the state-run China Daily reported in July that authorities were becoming “positive” to it. China is willing to “discuss exchanges and interactions with frameworks such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement,” Li said in his speech Tuesday. ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

New Mae Sot flight brings business to Moulmein Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:22 AM PDT Thailand's Nok Air has launched daily flights between the Thai border town of Mae Sot and Moulmein in Burma's Mon state. Following the launch the number of businessmen and tourists travelling to Burma has risen. However, several passengers have remarked that although the flight has made travelling more convenient, difficulties with visas still persist. "It would be more convenient for everyone if we could get visas easily. It's no problem if you have a multi-entry visa, but some travellers don't understand the process, " said Kyaw Hein, a Burmese businessman. He went on to say that he thought the new flight would bring many improvements. Related Stories Li emphasises free trade at ASEAN-China summit Business Weekly Thai firm cements deal in Moulmein The Mae Sot to Moulmein flight takes just 25 minutes, a far cry from the bumpy six-hour journey it would normally take overland. The new route has paved the way for Thai entrepreneurs eyeing up trade and investment opportunities to access the region more easily. "It's good for Thai citizens," said Kyaw Hein, "Now they can travel to Moulmein quickly and cheaply – the tickets cost even less than the petrol would." Tour operators hope the new route will boost tourism, especially Thai pilgrims travelling to see Mon State's famous Golden Rock Pagoda. A Nok Air service from Mae Sot to Rangoon is due to start running from 1 October.

Govt delegation heading to Malaysia amid migrant crackdown Posted: 04 Sep 2013 05:18 AM PDT A Burmese government delegation headed by the Minister of Labour is travelling to Malaysia to negotiate over the issue of Burmese nationals arrested during a major crackdown on illegal migrants in Malaysia that began on 1 September. According to Malaysia's Home Affairs Minister, more than 2,400 undocumented migrants, including 555 Burmese nationals, were detained on the first day of the crackdown. Thiha, a source close to the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said the Burmese delegation is expected to travel imminently to the Malaysian capital to discuss the matter with local authorities. "The Labour Minister is expected to negotiate the fate of the detained Burmese nationals," he said. "The delegation will also observe the conditions where Burmese migrants live and work, and may also meet with Burmese NGOs in Kuala Lumpur. San Win, the chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia-Myanmar Free Funeral Service, said he plans to bring to the delegation's attention the plight of Burmese migrants being cheated by brokers during the work and residence registration process. He said he would urge the Burmese officials to make a deal similar to that in Thailand where temporary passports are issued to migrants. Related Stories ILO warns of 'serious abuses' in Thai fishing industry Social media fuels police crackdown on Shan migrants in Thailand ASEAN officials address anti-Muslim violence in Burma Malaysia's home affairs minister said the crackdown will continue throughout the year, and that its aim is to eradicate illegal migrant labour in the country. The director of the Burma Immigration Department, Maung Maung Than, said a senior official from the department will also accompany the Labour Minister to Kuala Lumpur. "Our department's deputy-director will join the delegation and urge the Malaysian authorities to protect Burmese nationals," he said.

Burma counts cost of drought and flooding Posted: 04 Sep 2013 03:15 AM PDT Tens of thousands of acres of farmland across Burma were destroyed by extreme elements of both flooding and drought during the seasonal monsoon in August, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Farmland was severely affected by floodwaters in Karen, Mon, Arakan and Shan states, and Pegu, Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions. Meanwhile, in central Burma's Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe divisions a complete lack of rain killed crops. Hla Kyaw, acting director of the ministry's Department of Agricultural Planning, said a total of around 40,000 acres of farmland were destroyed by the flooding in lower and eastern Burma. "Although 40,000 acres of farmland were destroyed, we believe 80 percent of the rice and crops can be regrown," said Hla Kyaw. "Regional governments and the Agricultural Planning Department are providing farmers with seeds and fertiliser to regrow their crops," he added. Related Stories Hundreds of families evacuated in eastern Burma as floods hit Karen state hit with flooding for second time in the last month Monsoon rains inundate eastern Karen state Meanwhile, in the dry plains of Magwe division, a local from the town of Myaing told DVB that bean and sesame harvests were devastated by the drought, and said that many farmers and villagers had to seek employment elsewhere. "It is too difficult to grow crops when there is no rain," he said. "Some youths have gone to Hpakant to work in the jade mines; others headed to Malaysia or other cities in Burma to look for jobs." In the nearby town of Pakokku, a farmer said that his crop of beans had been destroyed twice this year because of a lack of rain. "I had to borrow money to replant my crops after the first harvest died," he explained. "But they perished a second time as the drought continued." In a public speech on 1 September, Burma's President Thein Sein said the central government, in cooperation with regional authorities, were working to tackle issues within the agricultural sector. He acknowledged that many farmers had been set back by the unseasonal weather phenomena, but pledged to implement preventative measures in the coming years to minimise losses.

Fuji Electric opens Rangoon branch Posted: 04 Sep 2013 02:22 AM PDT Fuji Electric Holdings Co Ltd announced on 2 September that it had opened a branch office on Shwegondaing road in Bahan township in Rangoon. The Tokyo-based firm said it aims to collect and analyse market trends for electric appliances while building ties with local and Japanese corporations based in Burma. "By establishing this branch office in Myanmar [Burma], Fuji Electric is aiming to expand its business while contributing to the country’s economic development going forward," the firm said on its website. Established in 1923 as a venture between Furukawa Electric and Siemens, Fuji Electric specialises in energy and power systems such as pressure transmitters, pumps, generators, motors and solar power conditioners. Related Stories Japanese airline buys 49 percent share in Asian Wings Local claims to have discovered legendary Japanese treasure Burma begins exporting rice to Japan Fuji Electric joins a long list of Japanese multinationals that have invested in Burma recently, including Mitsubishi, Sumitomo and Kamigumi. A series of high-level visits involving Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso helped boost Japanese business interests in the country, including a pledge to develop the 2,400-hectare Thilawa Special Economic Zone south of Rangoon. Earlier this year, Japan cancelled US$1.74 billion in Burmese debt, and has since offered fresh loans and development aid.

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