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Source : Irrawaddy Journal

Burma's ruling generals and educators of the country's future economic elite appear to have different ideas about the most appropriate model for Burma's economic development.

During a visit to Beijing in early June to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Sino-Burmese diplomatic relations, Gen Maung Aye, a leading member of Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council, said that he hoped to learn from China's experience of opening up to the global economy, apparently without undermining the country's one-party political system.

Meanwhile, Maw Than, rector of the Institute of Economics in Rangoon, said in a recent interview with the Myanmar Times that a new Masters program for prospective public administrators would be based on the Masters in Public Policy course at the National University of Singapore. He added that emphasis would be given to the state''s role in guiding the course of economic development. Both China and Singapore have largely state-driven economies and political systems that leave little room for dissent. China also relies heavily on military force to counter threats to state control.