Phuket meet highlights ‘excellent? relationship: A JOINT Myanmar-Thai task force set up to oversee the repatriation of illegal workers from Thailand will meet soon to discuss procedural matters, U Thaung Tun, the director general of the Political Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said... 2001 a positive year, FM tells diplomats: THERE had been a "discernible" change in Myanmar?s relations with western countries during 2001, Foreign Minister U Win Aung told Yangon-based diplomats in a New Year message last week... Secretary 1 says improvements needed in the tourism industry: SECRETARY 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, has called for big improvements in the tourism industry... Private banks sign on for satellite system transfers: MYANMAR?S five private banks could be using a satellite-based telecommunications system to speed up transactions as soon as next month... Chinese PM on South Asia trip: CHINESE Premier Zhu Rongji left Beijing last Friday for an eight-day tour of South Asia that will take him to Bangladesh and India, state press said... New centre planned for MRTV-3: MYANMA Radio and Television plans to build a new broadcasting centre for its MRTV-3 English-language service transmitted by satellite to international viewers... Freedom for four NLD members: THE government has freed four members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and a cousin of its leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, officials said last week... Publishing company plans news weekly: PUBLISHING company Knowledge Media plans to launch a news-oriented weekly publication named 7 Day News Journal and a new version of its Internet Journal... Thiha Tin Soe clinches two awards at a night of the stars: SURPRISES, emotion and humour were a feature of a glittering function to announce the Myanmar motion picture awards for 2000... New marketing strategy boosts jute exports to a 20-year high: JUTE exports will reach US$7 million this fiscal year, the highest figure for 20 years, according to Myanma Jute Industries general manager, U Htay Hlaing Oo... Traditional medicines offer cost savings, says official: TRADITIONAL medicines have an increasingly important role as substitutes for their expensive imported counterparts, Dr Paing Soe, the director general of the Department of Medical Research, said last week... Plantations to boost quinine production: MYANMA Agriculture Services is planning to establish two plantations of cinchona trees, from which a bark extract is used to make quinine, a vital medicine for the treatment of malaria... The rewards of honesty: BUS drivers and conductors shared honesty awards exceeding K100,000 last year for returning lost property and cash to commuters...Koizumi meets Razali, confirms Tokyo?s support of Myanmar: JAPANESE Minister Junichiro Koizumi has assured United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, that Tokyo?s support for Myanmar remains unchanged, an official said...Crowds flock to book ship: MORE than 5000 people visited the world?s largest floating bookshop, the MV Doulos, during a visit to Yangon which ended this week...Billboards to warn on smoking: SOME cigarette companies in Myanmar have begun including health warnings on billboard advertising as part of an agreement among some of the world?s biggest tobacco companies...Phuket meet highlights ‘excellent? relationship: A JOINT Myanmar-Thai task force set up to oversee the repatriation of illegal workers from Thailand will meet soon to discuss procedural matters, U Thaung Tun, the director general of the Political Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.