ASEAN chair confident in united, prosperous AC

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR, November 12 (TNA) - The 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit has been on progress in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital, in which Thai and other regional leaders participate and Myanmar President Thein Sein, as the current chair of the 10-member bloc, has expressed his confidence in the united and prosperous ASEAN Community (AC), scheduled to be formed by the end of 2015. This year's ASEAN Summit and related forums, set from November 12-13, was inaugurated on Wednesday morning, when the Myanmar president made the positive remarks in his keynote speech. The Myanmar president also suggested that ASEAN member countries promote both internal and external cooperation, while emphasizing the 25th ASEAN Summit's important agenda of developing the united, peaceful and prosperous 10-nation bloc. Despite the uncertainty of the global economy, the Myanmar president pointed out that consumption within ASEAN remains strong and the overall ASEAN economy should grow by 5 per cent next year. The Myanmar top leader also called on ASEAN member states to promote cultural cooperation, mutual trust, international roles, sustainable development and competitiveness to cope with global challenges, including disasters, terror attacks and epidemics, as well as food and energy crises. Besides, the Myanmar president recalled ASEAN achievements and past situations and condemned the disappearance of Flight MH317 of Malaysian Airlines and terrorist violence. The ASEAN leaders later resolved to form a high-level working group to draft guidelines for the ASEAN development after the establishment of the AC by the end of 2015. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha attends the ASEAN Summit for the first time, after taking office in August 2014. (TNA)