It gives me great pleasure to address
this gathering on the occasion of the commemoration of the DAY OF SIX BILLION which falls on today: I wish
all six billion people of the world enjoy
a happy and healthy life filled with auspiciousness.
Today the world population reaches six billion. It is therefore most appropriate that we reflect on significance of this momentous event. Six billion is not just a number but it is about people and the impact of population increase in the world.
Reaching six billion is the result of personal choice and collective action to improve health, extend life span and raise individual expectations. People today enjoy
longer and healthier lives than any generation before, indicating better health
care services, lower maternal and infant mortality and longer life expectancy.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the world's population was approximately 1.5 billion; by 1960 it had doubled; and today, it had quadrupled to 6 billion. The fourth, fifth and sixth billion marks in global population were achieved in only 14, 13 and 12 years respectively.
Six billion poses a challenge. Today there are over a billion young people between15 and 24 years of age, the parents of the next generation. Their decisions about the size and spacing of their families will determine how many people will be on the planet by 2050 and beyond. Their decisions will also help determine how they live in poverty or prosperity: on a green and health planet or in a world devastated by human activities. Good outcomes depend on good choices.
The world's population will be between 7 and 7.5 billion by the years 2015. Population stabilization will not be achieved for another 50 years at the earliest. With the increase of population, the demands for basic human needs such as food, clothing and shelters will also increase accordingly. It will also call for the creation of sufficient employment opportunities to absorb the growing working age population. In trying to meet these growing demands, due consideration should be given for the protection and preservation of earth's resources and the natural environment.
The increase in population will also bring with it new demands to meet the health needs of a growing number of people including the prevention and control of the spread of diseases. It is most likely that there will be a recurrence of controlled diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis as well as the emergence of new diseases like HIV/AIDS. This will call for concrete and systematic measures in a timely manner. International cooperation and collaboration is of paramount importance to address this global problem in a timely and effective way.
Continued population growth can affect the world's natural environment including shrinking forests, rising temperature, and the wholesale loss of plant and animal species. Unless ways and means to prevent climate change and natural resources degradation are undertaken the people all over the world will be in great danger.
On the other hand, six billion people will also bring with it new prospects and possibilities. Increase of population means that more scientists, sociologists
and economists will emerge form those six billion people. For instance, the 200 -years-old apocalyptic prediction and more recent warnings that human population growth would eventually out strip the capacity of land to produce food have not come true. Human ingenuity and ongoing improvements in agricultural technology have thus far ensured that global food supply have grown at least as fast as population. It is our hope that that human ingenuity and continued improvement in science and technology will ensure that no great danger will come to the people all over the world.
Reaching six billion has both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side,
it is the result of personal choice and collective action for better health and longer life. This is reflected, for example, in every newborn whose mother had a healthy pregnancy; in every young woman who can protect herself form HIV infection; in every older person who protected their health while they were younger, in every girl who receives better nutrition, health care and education etc. On the negative side, the poorest countries often have the highest population growth rates. The poorest countries also have the worst reproductive health, the highest rates of maternal mortality and the lowest rates of family planning use. We therefore firmly believe that the international co-operation and collaborations is of paramount importance
to address the global issues.
As far as Myanmar is concerned, we welcome the growing population, since
the population density of Myanmar is quite low. It is only 70 persons per square kilometer. It is also sparsely populated compared to our neighbours. Although
the above-mentioned problems may not affect us indirectly, they may affect us indirectly.
Compared to our population we still have abundance of lands. Myanmar has the vast cultivable land in the country stretching 45 million acres. But only 23 million acres are put to use and efforts are being made for utilization of the remaining
22 million. Still we are making plans to meet the difficulties that may arise from the effect of growing population. Virgin and fallow lands are being turned into cultivable land to enhance the food production.

Measures are also being taken to get sufficient power supply for the establishment of industries and production work as well as for the improvement of living standard. We are also able to generate sufficient employment opportunities to meet the needs of the growing working age population. National Health Policies were laid down to improve the health situation of all segments of the society. Health care has now reached the remote border regions as well as rural areas. Programmes are formulated and implemented so as to reach the grass root levels.

The Government of the Union of Myanmar is taking every measure to meet the challenges of the growing population. Due to the systematic polices and measures adopted, we are fully confident that we shall not only be able to meet the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter but also improve the standards of living and the quality of life of all our national brethren. By the efficient use of our nation's strong points, especially our sound economic fundamentals, our natural resources and the potentials of our people, we shall surely be able to build a society where there is peace and tranquility, where people in every corner of the country enjoys fruits of economic development and progress and where our citizens will be able to up lift their social well-being while preserving their rich culture and unique national identity.
While strengthening its collaboration and cooperation with all nations, international organizations and United Nations Agencies, Union of Myanmar is determined to continue to play an active role in the world efforts to tackle the issue of population. In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all concerned for making this commemoration of THE DAY OF SIX BILLION a success.