The Chinese government has donated 500 tons of rice and 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) worth of antimalaria medicines to Myanmar, as part of a program to help Myanmar with its poppy-substitute program.

 

The aid was formally handed over on Tuesday in Laukkai, capital of Shan State Special Region-1.

 

With the support of China, a major destination for the illegal produce of the "Golden Triangle" poppy cultivation area, foreign governments, and international organizations, the Myanmar government has increased efforts to carry out its opium-substitute program.

 

This has resulted in large reductions in the acreage of poppy cultivation and in the incomes of poppy growers, as well as a shortage of grain supply in north Myanmar.

 

At the request of Myanmar government, the Chinese government agreed to give 10,000 tons of rice to the Myanmar government and 5 million yuan (US$625,000) worth of goods to Kokang region in north Myanmar.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)