Myanmar is making every effort in its role as ASEAN Chair.

In his message on August 8th, commemorating the 46th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar President U Thein Sein stated that his country would assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, committing to further the Association's achievements towards the goal of establishing the ASEAN Community by 2015 and realizing the ASEAN Vision after 2015.

President U Thein Sein stated that social, economic, and political reforms in Myanmar are creating opportunities for the country to strengthen its integration with other ASEAN member states.

Myanmar President U Thein Sein. (Source: AFP/VNA)

According to U Thein Sein, the people-centered democracy in Myanmar is in line with the ASEAN Charter and is facilitating the country's economic development, helping to improve the social standing of its people.

Furthermore, Myanmar's efforts in implementing ASEAN Community plans have positively impacted its economic, social, and political goals.

In his speech, Thein Sein also emphasized that the will and participation of the people play a crucial role in building a developed and modern country, as well as in achieving the goals of the ASEAN Community.

President U Thein Sein called on ASEAN member states to both develop independently and strengthen cooperation; he also affirmed that Myanmar would contribute as much as possible to ASEAN by best playing its role as a bridge between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

He also pledged that, in its role as ASEAN Chair in 2014, Myanmar would strengthen ASEAN's central role in the region, maintain and enhance consensus within ASEAN, and strengthen and promote closer relations with dialogue partners.

This is the first time Myanmar has held the ASEAN chairmanship since joining the Southeast Asian "common home" in 1997.

According to (VNA) - DT