国际英语新闻:Campaign intensifies as Myanmar election approaches

YANGON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Campaignings by major political parties in Myanmar intensified Sunday as Nov. 8 general election has entered a time of seven-day countdown.

Candidate of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) U Myint Hlaing delivered his campaigning speech in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area's Dakhina Thiri township constituency where he will run the election.

The event was attended by USDP members and their local supporters totaling 2,000.

U Myint Hlaing, who is also Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, told local voters about the development efforts of the party, giving seven promises which he said will be implemented within two years.

He said people's force will be the only force that can build a more developed and prosperous nation.

According to the Union Election Commission, USDP will field 1,122 candidates to compete in the election.

On Sunday, Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), delivered a campaigning speech at a 100,000-strong rally in Yangon, saying the support of Yangon people reflects the whole country's support for her party and the people's strength is NLD's strength.

Yangon region's support will contribute to the party's election result, she said.

According to the election commission, NLD will feed 1,124 candidates to run the election.

Election campaign started on Sept. 8 and are set to end on Nov. 6, two days before the polling.

A total of 6,040 candidates involving 91 political parties and 310 independent runners will compete for more than 1,000 parliamentary seats in the election.

The election commission designated 1,163 constituencies for the vote at three levels of the parliament across the country, namely the House of Representatives (Lower House), the House of Nationalities (Upper House) and the Region or State Parliament involving ethnic representatives.

Of the 1,163 constituencies, 330 are for seats of the Lower House, 168 for the Upper House, 636 for the Region or State Parliament and 29 for ethnic representatives.