REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YANGON -- Myanmar President U Thein Sein has pledged that the country would strive to ensure peace and prosperity in the ASEAN region including the establishment of ASEAN Community as it assumes ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, official media reported Wednesday.

Addressing a coordination meeting on assuming the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, U Thein Sein stressed the importance of the duty of ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, saying that it is the last year to take necessary preparations for the emergence of ASEAN Community by 2015.

He also emphasized the need to have thorough understanding of duties and make constant efforts for serving duties actively, holding that it is in conformity with the independent, active and non-aligned foreign policy vested in Myanmar's constitution.

"Myanmar's current political, economic and administrative reforms are the good example to other ASEAN countries," he said, adding that Myanmar could practice its foreign policy in accordance with the constitution.

He also noted that taking ASEAN chairmanship is a golden opportunity for Myanmar to show its leading role and its dignity in the region and the world.

He called for active participation in it as a national duty.

On Nov. 17, 2011, ASEAN leaders approved Myanmar at a summit to take the ASEAN chair for 2014, which was handed over to Myanmar by Brunei on Oct. 10 at the 23rd ASEAN Summit held in Bandar Seri Begawan.

It will be the very first time for Myanmar since its joining the grouping in 1997 to assume the regional leadership starting Jan. 1, 2014.

During Myanmar's one-year term of the ASEAN chairmanship, more than 240 regional meetings are scheduled to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.

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